The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KyTC) is planning to
add median cable barriers to a section of Interstate 24 in Christian
County. Two other sections could be eligible for cable barriers
in the next year or two.
The three sections on I-24, from the 3- to 12-mile
marker in McCracken County, from the 70- to 85-mile marker and the 86- to
93-mile marker in Christian County had made their way into the top five of a
cable barrier priority list over the last three years. Engineers anticipate moving ahead with barrier installation
on the section from the 70- to 85-mile marker in Christian County this
year.
The Kentucky Transportation Research Center at the
University of Kentucky conducted an extensive review of all Interstate
highways across the state. Each one was ranked based on the number of
crossover crashes that occurred versus the
number that would be expected on highways of similar design and traffic
flow.
The research found a total of 46 fatality and
injury crashes along the entire 93-mile length of I-24 in Kentucky over
the last 10 years. Ten of those were classified as crossovers; eight head-on
and two opposite direction side-swipes. A review
of the last three years showed five fatality crossover crashes; two in McCracken
County and three in Christian County.
“First and foremost, the safety of the motoring
public is a top priority of our cabinet, and we regard every highway
fatality as a tragedy,” KyTC District 2 Chief Engineer Kevin McClearn
said. “We continuously work to identify roadways
– or sections of roadway – that can be improved for enhanced safety. At the district level, we often perform roadway safety audits in
high-crash areas and we carry out an automatic site review of all
fatality crash locations. Depending on the issues involved,
an audit may result in actions such as additional or improved highway
markings, signals and signage, or application of high-friction asphalt –
to name a few.”
Median cable barrier costs an average of $115,000 per mile. KyTC has installed 172
miles of cable on various controlled-access highways statewide. KyTC has budgeted about $3 million for installation of an additional 25
miles of barrier cable this year.
McClearn noted that locations for barrier
installation are identified and given a priority ranking on the basis of
crash history. As barriers have been added to highway sections ranked
highest over the years, the three sections of I-24 have now made their way to near the top of that list.
Unless other sections of highway around the state
have a higher number of crossover crashes for 2013, another two sections
of I-24 would be expected to be eligible for barrier installation in
the 2014 or 2015 construction season.
“A median cable project for I-24 in Christian
County is currently moving through the design phase. We hope to have it
ready for bids this summer,” McClearn said. “It involves about 16 miles
of I-24 from about midway between the U.S. 68/Ky.
80 and Ky. 117 interchanges to about the U.S. 41-Alternate interchange
south of Hopkinsville.”
While median cable barrier is effective in
preventing or mitigating median crossover crashes involving passenger
vehicles, McClearn noted it is not fail-safe and it creates other safety
issues.
“For instance, it is not designed to stop trucks,”
McClearn said. “It also limits the ability of emergency responders to
cross medians, increasing response time to a crash site. For motorists,
the barrier can turn what might be a $45
tow charge for a runoff during icy conditions into a $2,000 auto repair
and a $2,000 bill, or more, for repairing the cable when they hit it.”
McClearn said some of the preliminary engineering
work on the section of I-24 from the 70- to the 85-mile marker will
likely start within a few weeks. A construction contract could be bid
in June or July, with work starting about a month
after the bid date. Construction could take about two to three months to
complete, weather permitting.
McClearn indicated the most effective weapon for
highway safety is the driver who observes the speed limit and other
traffic laws, refrains from cell phone use and other distractions while
behind the wheel, maintains his vehicle and tires
properly, is cognizant of weather and road conditions, and is
constantly watching out for other traffic.
