NewsChannel 5.com - Nashville, Tennessee - TDOT Installs New Cable Barrier Rails

TDOT Installs New Cable Barrier Rails

FAIRVIEW, Tenn. - On Thursday night, Tennessee Department of Transportation crews began a project designed to make driving on one section of Interstate 40 a bit safer.

They started installing a new type of guardrail in the median.

It's called a cable barrier rail, which is a heavy duty steel cable strung between steel posts.

Crews began installing the new cable barrier rails near Fairview. This strecth of road is one of the most dangerous, according to TDOT.

The barrier is designed to keep vehicles from veering across the median of a highway into oncoming traffic.

"We looked at what things we could do to increase the safety at this point and one of the things that we wanted to try were the cable barrier rails," said TDOT spokeswoman Julie Oaks.

The barriers work best when placed on flat medians close to the edge of the pavement without any ditches or hills. The cable rails are also cheaper and easier to fix than conventional rails. 

While the barriers are new to Middle Tennessee, they have a good track record when it comes to safety, Oaks said.

She said the agency has seen a good success rate when it comes to preventing head-on fatalities involving vehicles that cross the median.

TDOT will consider building the new guardrails in other parts of the Midstate if they are found to be effective.

About 2,700 feet of cable barrier rail will be installed for $50,000. The project is expected to be completed in May.

The installation requires some lane closures in that area at night. Similar guardrails are already in place in Memphis and Chattanooga.