November 13, 2003

Refer to: HSA-10/LS-56

Mr. Bob Sik
Vice President
Akron Foundry Company
2728 Wingate Avenue
P.O. Box 27028
Akron, Ohio 44319-0009

Dear Mr. Sik:

Thank you for your letter October 9 of requesting Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) acceptance of an optional modification to your company's T-Base breakaway cast aluminum products for use on the National Highway System (NHS). You requested that we find the relocation of the access door hinges to the right side of the door acceptable for use on the NHS under the provisions of National Cooperative Highway Research Program Report 350 "Recommended Procedures for the Safety Performance Evaluation of Highway Features."

We concur that this optional modification would have no significant impact on the breakaway performance of your company's transformer bases. All appropriate conditions in the previous FHWA Acceptance Letters dealing with cast aluminum transformer bases continue to apply.

Sincerely yours,

(Original Signed By R. Powers)
for:
John R. Baxter, P.E.
Director, Office of Safety Design
Office of Safety