Infrastructure Improvement Award: To Missouri Department of Transportation for System-Wide Installation of Median Cable Barrier
Through an analysis of the state’s crash data, Missouri Department of Transportation recognized an emerging problem of severe cross-median crashes on its most heavily traveled roadways. To address this safety concern, Missouri began an effort to install median cable barriers system-wide on its major interstates. The key to the success of this system-wide improvement was the installation of low-cost safety devices across the entire system -- even at locations without a history of severe crashes.
Cable barrier has performed successfully in Missouri, catching over 95% of vehicles entering the median. Most importantly, it is saving lives. As an example, Interstate 70 suffered 24 cross-median fatalities in 2002. The installation of system-wide cable barrier since then has virtually eliminated this crash type, as only two cross-median fatalities occurred in 2006, a decrease directly attributable to the state’s system-wide approach to this safety problem.
For more information, contact:
Brian Chandler, P.E., PTOE
Missouri Department of Transportation
Telephone: 573-751-5678
Email: brian.chandler@modot.mo.gov
Rev. 10/30/07