During a ceremony at the I-24 welcome center in Hopkinsville Thursday, Gov. Steve Beshear announced that work has already begun on the $3.1 million, 24-mile installation project.
“Early in my administration, we had a serious problem – crossover crashes – and a shortage of money, but we were determined to do something about it,” Beshear said. “The solution we chose was cable barriers. We aggressively began deploying cable barrier systems, and the result has been a dramatic reduction in crossover crashes. That also means fewer medical expenses and liability, and most importantly, fewer funerals and heartbroken families.”
Over the last 3½ years there have been 27 crossover collisions recorded near the McCracken County-Marshall County project area. Four resulted in fatalities. The Christian County stretch has witnessed 25 crossover collisions, four of which resulted in fatalities.
The current median cable barrier installation is in two sections along I-24. The project already underway in Paducah starts near the Ohio River and continues past the U.S. 68 exit 16 interchange in Marshall County. In Christian County, the project begins near the U.S. 41-Alternate exit 86 interchange and extends to the Kentucky/Tennessee line. The Christian County section is a continuation of a nearly 16-mile installation project completed last summer.
Keith Todd of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet said placement of cable barriers is determined by traffic volume and crash data. Kentucky has more than 240 miles of barrier installed or in the process of installation — most of it along interstates and highways in urban areas. More rural areas have qualified to receive barriers under the federal Highway Safety Improvement Program due to the increase of those data factors.
This year, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has budgeted $6.1 million for median barrier installation. The cost per mile averages $140,000 to $150,000 per mile.
