Date:
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Contact:
Abbi Russell, WSDOT Communications, (360) 905-2058 (Vancouver)
KELSO – Cable barrier in the median of I-5 successfully saved an errant semi-truck from crossing the median and colliding with oncoming traffic near Kelso on Friday, March 26.
“This is another cable barrier success story,” said WSDOT Design Policy, Standards and Research Manager Dave Olson. “The barrier is designed to stop cars and pickup trucks, but has also successfully stopped larger vehicles like this semi-truck.”
The high-tension cable barrier was installed last summer, and since then has stopped four vehicles from crossing the median.
WSDOT recently finished installing an additional 15 miles of cable barrier along I-5 between Woodland and Vancouver, thanks to $9 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
This stretch of I-5 was identified as a priority, and crews started working in January to upgrade the cable barrier from low-tension to high-tension.
Although no barrier can prevent every collision, high-tension cable barrier stops vehicles from crossing the median 95 percent of the time, reducing the potential for dangerous and often times deadly cross-over collisions.
For more information about WSDOT’s statewide Cable Barrier Retrofit project, please visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/cablebarrierretrofit.
Washington State is administering the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act investments with an unprecedented level of transparency and accountability. Gov. Gregoire created a Web site, http://recovery.wa.gov/, so every Washingtonian can see where tax dollars are going and hold government accountable for the results.
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WSDOT keeps people, businesses and the economy moving by operating and improving the state's transportation systems. To learn more about what we're doing, go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/news for pictures, videos, news and blogs. Real time traffic information is available at www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic or by dialing 5-1-1.
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