Study: Cable barriers save lives, money

Sep 14, 2008

High-tension cable barriers that serve as the median along some Texas roadways are saving lives and money, according to a study conducted by the Texas Transportation Institute.

Researchers with TTI and the Texas Department of Transportation studied the effectiveness of the barriers for 12 months. According to a news release, preliminary findings showed the barriers – designed to prevent head-on vehicle collisions – prevented 18 fatalities and 26 injuries. Last year, a similar study showed fatalities dropped from 52 to just one.

The study also found that although maintenance costs for the cable barriers are much higher than costs to repair concrete barriers, overall costs are less expensive than concrete barriers. Other studies have shown use of cable median barriers can involve road design issues and cost issues. TxDOT has installed cable median barriers along about 700 miles of Texas roadways.