OK: ODOT spends stimulus funds on fancier cable barriers

[Scott5114]

http://www.newson6.com/Global/story.asp?S=11576458

Channel 6 in Tulsa is running this story about ODOT spending its ARRA funds on cable barriers. That's not the issue so much, but rather that ODOT is using 4-cable barriers at a cost of $125,000 per mile while bordering states have been using 3-cable barriers for $100,000 per mile. Both pass the federal minimum safety test. ODOT says they are using the 4-cable barriers because they hold up better to semi impacts and they don't want to save money if it means cutting corners on safety.

My view is that if ODOT has reason (studies) to believe the 4-cable system is better, then by all means, spend the extra cash to get the best we can get. I'd like OK to have higher-quality roads.

[bugo]

On  I-40 near Gore, the cables are installed at the edge of the pavement on one side of the highway or the other.  Wouldn't it be much safer if the cables were in the middle of the median?  The median is pretty wide in this area.

[Scott5114]

It's likely something to do with the geometry of the median. Is the center of the median much lower than the lanes?

[bugo]

It's likely something to do with the geometry of the median. Is the center of the median much lower than the lanes?

Yes the center of the median is lower than the lanes on this stretch.

[Sykotyk]

That's the reason. If a fast moving car caroms into the median, it may simply sail right on over the cable barriers and into the opposing lane.

[bugo]

They seem like they would be unsafe to me because if a car runs into them, it would cause the car to bounce back into traffic instead of being allowed to go meet a cable in the middle of the median.

[Scott5114]

This again?

[mightyace]

This again?

Yes, this horse has been beat to death before in:
Median Cable Guardrails-good or bad?