District Five Letting & Project Information

Current Letting and Project Information

2025 Lettings

While using spike strips on off-ramps may seem like a simple solution to stop wrong-way drivers by flattening tires, it may not always work as intended. The spike strips may also produce undesired consequences to drivers traveling in the correct direction. Below are some potential reasons why spikes should not be used at freeway off-ramps:

• Spike strips are designed for very low-speed locations. They are most commonly used in parking lots where the average speed is about 5 miles per hour. However, on the off-ramps, the traffic volumes are significantly higher than those in parking lots. Further, the average speed is also significantly high - ranging from 25 to 40 miles per hour. Lastly, there is no commercially available spike strip system that has been designed for permanent installation on roadways with speeds greater than 5 mph.
• Spikes may not deflate tires of wrong-way vehicles quickly enough to prevent vehicles from entering the highway. If a wrong-way vehicle reaches the freeway mainline with defective tires and continues to drive the wrong-way, it may still pose a threat to motorists traveling in the correct direction.
• Law enforcement and emergency responders sometimes use off-ramps to enter the mainline to respond to an incident more quickly. Having spikes on off-ramps may cause unwanted consequences to emergency responders and law enforcement officers.
• Right-way drivers may perceive spike strips in the pavement ahead as a hazard and suddenly apply their brakes, creating a dangerous situation.
• Permanently installed spikes that are broken or torn may cause damage to tires of the traffic traveling in the correct direction. Moreover, spike strips can be dangerous to motorcycles and small cars traveling in the correct direction.
• Dirt, debris, and other substances may build up in the devices and cause malfunctions.
• All traffic control devices installed on highways must comply with the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). Due to the risk of damaging vehicles and harming occupants traveling in the correct direction, spike strips devices are not MUTCD-compliant.
• Texas Department of Transportation provides reasons against spike strip concept. According to TxDOT, Spike strips have been considered by the industry, but they can pose significant safety and maintenance challenges. 
  • http://www.transguide.dot.state.tx.us/sat/wwd/content/EngineeringAnalysisSpikeStrips.pdf

Other states are also not considering installing spikes on their off-ramps for the above-mentioned reasons. Some news links are provided below. 

Ohio: 10 reasons why spike strips aren’t used to stop wrong-way drivers

Arizona: Will spike strips stop wrong-way drivers? ADOT responds to suggestions

Pennsylvania: Why Spikes Aren’t The Answer to Stopping Wrong-Way Drivers

2024 Lettings

While using spike strips on off-ramps may seem like a simple solution to stop wrong-way drivers by flattening tires, it may not always work as intended. The spike strips may also produce undesired consequences to drivers traveling in the correct direction. Below are some potential reasons why spikes should not be used at freeway off-ramps:

• Spike strips are designed for very low-speed locations. They are most commonly used in parking lots where the average speed is about 5 miles per hour. However, on the off-ramps, the traffic volumes are significantly higher than those in parking lots. Further, the average speed is also significantly high - ranging from 25 to 40 miles per hour. Lastly, there is no commercially available spike strip system that has been designed for permanent installation on roadways with speeds greater than 5 mph.
• Spikes may not deflate tires of wrong-way vehicles quickly enough to prevent vehicles from entering the highway. If a wrong-way vehicle reaches the freeway mainline with defective tires and continues to drive the wrong-way, it may still pose a threat to motorists traveling in the correct direction.
• Law enforcement and emergency responders sometimes use off-ramps to enter the mainline to respond to an incident more quickly. Having spikes on off-ramps may cause unwanted consequences to emergency responders and law enforcement officers.
• Right-way drivers may perceive spike strips in the pavement ahead as a hazard and suddenly apply their brakes, creating a dangerous situation.
• Permanently installed spikes that are broken or torn may cause damage to tires of the traffic traveling in the correct direction. Moreover, spike strips can be dangerous to motorcycles and small cars traveling in the correct direction.
• Dirt, debris, and other substances may build up in the devices and cause malfunctions.
• All traffic control devices installed on highways must comply with the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). Due to the risk of damaging vehicles and harming occupants traveling in the correct direction, spike strips devices are not MUTCD-compliant.
• Texas Department of Transportation provides reasons against spike strip concept. According to TxDOT, Spike strips have been considered by the industry, but they can pose significant safety and maintenance challenges. 
  • http://www.transguide.dot.state.tx.us/sat/wwd/content/EngineeringAnalysisSpikeStrips.pdf

Other states are also not considering installing spikes on their off-ramps for the above-mentioned reasons. Some news links are provided below. 

Ohio: 10 reasons why spike strips aren’t used to stop wrong-way drivers

Arizona: Will spike strips stop wrong-way drivers? ADOT responds to suggestions

Pennsylvania: Why Spikes Aren’t The Answer to Stopping Wrong-Way Drivers

2024 Award & Posting / Bid Tabulations

While using spike strips on off-ramps may seem like a simple solution to stop wrong-way drivers by flattening tires, it may not always work as intended. The spike strips may also produce undesired consequences to drivers traveling in the correct direction. Below are some potential reasons why spikes should not be used at freeway off-ramps:

• Spike strips are designed for very low-speed locations. They are most commonly used in parking lots where the average speed is about 5 miles per hour. However, on the off-ramps, the traffic volumes are significantly higher than those in parking lots. Further, the average speed is also significantly high - ranging from 25 to 40 miles per hour. Lastly, there is no commercially available spike strip system that has been designed for permanent installation on roadways with speeds greater than 5 mph.
• Spikes may not deflate tires of wrong-way vehicles quickly enough to prevent vehicles from entering the highway. If a wrong-way vehicle reaches the freeway mainline with defective tires and continues to drive the wrong-way, it may still pose a threat to motorists traveling in the correct direction.
• Law enforcement and emergency responders sometimes use off-ramps to enter the mainline to respond to an incident more quickly. Having spikes on off-ramps may cause unwanted consequences to emergency responders and law enforcement officers.
• Right-way drivers may perceive spike strips in the pavement ahead as a hazard and suddenly apply their brakes, creating a dangerous situation.
• Permanently installed spikes that are broken or torn may cause damage to tires of the traffic traveling in the correct direction. Moreover, spike strips can be dangerous to motorcycles and small cars traveling in the correct direction.
• Dirt, debris, and other substances may build up in the devices and cause malfunctions.
• All traffic control devices installed on highways must comply with the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). Due to the risk of damaging vehicles and harming occupants traveling in the correct direction, spike strips devices are not MUTCD-compliant.
• Texas Department of Transportation provides reasons against spike strip concept. According to TxDOT, Spike strips have been considered by the industry, but they can pose significant safety and maintenance challenges. 
  • http://www.transguide.dot.state.tx.us/sat/wwd/content/EngineeringAnalysisSpikeStrips.pdf

Other states are also not considering installing spikes on their off-ramps for the above-mentioned reasons. Some news links are provided below. 

Ohio: 10 reasons why spike strips aren’t used to stop wrong-way drivers

Arizona: Will spike strips stop wrong-way drivers? ADOT responds to suggestions

Pennsylvania: Why Spikes Aren’t The Answer to Stopping Wrong-Way Drivers

Addenda & Amendments

Contractors will be notified of all Amendments and are required to download the Amendments from the  CPP Online Ordering System per these instructions: Amendment Instructions (PDF)

Amendment files can be downloaded by clicking on the links.  Amendments must be downloaded to the location of your original EBS file prior to preparing the bid.

If you do not have Acrobat Reader you can download it free at Get Acrobat Reader.

While using spike strips on off-ramps may seem like a simple solution to stop wrong-way drivers by flattening tires, it may not always work as intended. The spike strips may also produce undesired consequences to drivers traveling in the correct direction. Below are some potential reasons why spikes should not be used at freeway off-ramps:

• Spike strips are designed for very low-speed locations. They are most commonly used in parking lots where the average speed is about 5 miles per hour. However, on the off-ramps, the traffic volumes are significantly higher than those in parking lots. Further, the average speed is also significantly high - ranging from 25 to 40 miles per hour. Lastly, there is no commercially available spike strip system that has been designed for permanent installation on roadways with speeds greater than 5 mph.
• Spikes may not deflate tires of wrong-way vehicles quickly enough to prevent vehicles from entering the highway. If a wrong-way vehicle reaches the freeway mainline with defective tires and continues to drive the wrong-way, it may still pose a threat to motorists traveling in the correct direction.
• Law enforcement and emergency responders sometimes use off-ramps to enter the mainline to respond to an incident more quickly. Having spikes on off-ramps may cause unwanted consequences to emergency responders and law enforcement officers.
• Right-way drivers may perceive spike strips in the pavement ahead as a hazard and suddenly apply their brakes, creating a dangerous situation.
• Permanently installed spikes that are broken or torn may cause damage to tires of the traffic traveling in the correct direction. Moreover, spike strips can be dangerous to motorcycles and small cars traveling in the correct direction.
• Dirt, debris, and other substances may build up in the devices and cause malfunctions.
• All traffic control devices installed on highways must comply with the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). Due to the risk of damaging vehicles and harming occupants traveling in the correct direction, spike strips devices are not MUTCD-compliant.
• Texas Department of Transportation provides reasons against spike strip concept. According to TxDOT, Spike strips have been considered by the industry, but they can pose significant safety and maintenance challenges. 
  • http://www.transguide.dot.state.tx.us/sat/wwd/content/EngineeringAnalysisSpikeStrips.pdf

Other states are also not considering installing spikes on their off-ramps for the above-mentioned reasons. Some news links are provided below. 

Ohio: 10 reasons why spike strips aren’t used to stop wrong-way drivers

Arizona: Will spike strips stop wrong-way drivers? ADOT responds to suggestions

Pennsylvania: Why Spikes Aren’t The Answer to Stopping Wrong-Way Drivers