The Longview City Council on July 22 approved Resolution 25-71 authorizing the purchase of a Scorpion 2 towable crash attenuator to protect Public Works employees working in traffic.

Assistant City Manager Chris Collins presented the request, saying the attenuator attaches to the back of a dump truck and absorbs energy from rear impacts. Collins said the device is towable between vehicles that have a pintle hitch, can be rebuilt after major impacts, and is a better protective measure than cones or signs alone in congested, lower-speed urban settings where the city’s busiest truck routes generate heavy traffic.

Collins described a recent after-hours water-main repair on Industrial Way where crews worked in dark and congested conditions. He said the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) standards require temporary traffic control devices for multi-lane roadways above certain speeds, but many Longview locations are busy even at speeds below 45 mph and are vulnerable to distracted driving. Collins said a towable TMA is a practical way to meet the intent of those standards and protect employees doing emergency and scheduled roadway work. He noted the unit’s MASH certification and FHWA-accepted design and that the cost can be absorbed within existing water and sewer operating budgets; the purchase cost will be split between the water and sewer budget.

Council members asked whether the device would be used by multiple departments. Collins said all departments can borrow it but water and sewer will have prioritized use because of their frequent after-hours emergencies; periodic sharing with other departments is expected and future budget requests for additional units could follow as needs are assessed. Council members also asked whether the city’s insurance authority (WCIA) offers incentives or grant funding for the purchase; Collins said WCIA has grant programs for safety equipment and staff would explore potential funding assistance.

A motion to approve Resolution 25-71 was moved, seconded and carried by voice vote without recorded opposition.

Council members described the purchase as a relatively low-cost safety measure compared with the potential cost and harm of a crash involving a work crew.