In The News

Median cables drastically cutting crossover crash death rate in Missouri

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.  — Missouri highway officials say only one person died last year in crossover crashes where median cables were installed.

The Missouri Department of Transportation said Thursday that the lone fatality was on Interstate 70. None were recorded I-44.

In 2002, with only limited miles of guard cable installed on I-70, there were 24 cross-median fatalities while I-44 had 25 such deaths in 2006. MoDOT has installed 550 miles of guard cable in medians of the state's busiest highways.

High-speed traffic on Interstates 70, 44, 29, 35, 55 and 435 and Missouri 67 was resulting in vehicles crossing medians and colliding with vehicles going in the other direction.

Additional guard cable will be installed on Interstate 470 and Routes 63 and 65 in the next few years.

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