United States Department of Transportation
i
In-service evaluation of high tension cable barrier systems.
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2017-04-15
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[PDF-7.56 MB]
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Abstract:The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has installed hundreds of miles of high-tension cable median barrier (CMB) as a safety innovation. The usage of CMB aids in the prevention of crossover crashes, where a vehicle departs the roadway on the left shoulder, crosses the median, and enters the opposing lane(s) of traffic. Of the three CMB vendor products, KYTC has observed inconsistent performance; specifically, tension loss in the cables after a single vehicle impact. If a second vehicle were to strike the cable barrier system in a location other than the damaged area of the first vehicle’s crash, ideally, the high-tension cable barrier system should continue to prevent errant vehicles from crossing the median and causing a head-on collision. The goal of this research was to improve the safety and effectiveness of Kentucky’s cable barrier systems by reviewing state DOT best practices for cable barrier, conducting on-site evaluation of current cable barrier installations, and examining crash data. The research team analyzed each CMB vendor product’s performance and maintenance requirements, and recommended modifications to KYTC policies, specifications, and maintenance procedures. The study showed that CMB systems have decreased crossover crashes in Kentucky, which warrants the continued use of high-tension cable barrier across the state. One recommendation of the study is to institute and enforce tension-monitoring programs, as applicable, for both annual inspections and after repairs. PROVENANCE NOTE: The first submitted version of this report, which was uploaded to NTL on 10/05/2017, was replaced by a newer version of the report, which contains an update to the abstract, on 10/17/2017. The link to the first submitted version of the report remains accessible via the "Alternate URL" field.
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