Crews to replace cable median barrier along I-5 in Bellingham with new barrier

    
BELLINGHAM - Crews will remove two miles of cable median barrier along I-5 in Bellingham and install a new median barrier to help reduce serious and fatal injury collisions.

Crews will replace the existing three-strand, low-tension cable median barrier between Fairhaven Parkway (exit 250) and Sunset Drive (exit 255)with four-strand, high-tension cable barrier.

High-tension cable barrier provides increased tension to keep the cables taut even if some of the posts are knocked down. The additional fourth strand of cable expands the barriers range and will further reduce the potential for vehicles to cross over or under the median barrier.

Cable median barrier reduces the potential for vehicles to cross the median and be involved in deadly head-on collisions. According to statewide statistics, 96.3 percent of vehicles that hit high-tension cable barriers are stopped from crossing the median.

Crews will install the concrete support posts the week of Nov. 16 and then will return in December to install the cables. Crews will close lanes from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., Monday through Thursday nights. Drivers should expect minor delays.  

The 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided $12 million in funding for retrofitting nearly 30 miles of cable median barrier on state highways and installing 662 miles of centerline rumble strips. The cable barrier portion of the project is expected to support approximately 90 jobs. More details: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2009/07/27_ARRACableRumbleContracts.htm.

To view pictures of cable barrier successfully stopping vehicles from crossing medians across the state, view WSDOT's Flickr.com picture account - http://www.flickr.com/photos/wsdot/sets/72157605592668076/.

Washington state is administering the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act investments with an unprecedented level of transparency and accountability. Gov. Gregoire created a Web site,http://www.recovery.wa.gov/, so every Washingtonian can see where tax dollars are going and hold government accountable for the results. On the federal level, President Obama has appointed Vice President Biden to oversee all states' recovery efforts and to root out waste and fraud.This combined oversight will ensure taxpayer dollars are put to good use and recharge the economy.

Contact:  Dustin Terpening, WSDOT communications, 360-757-5997
(Burlington)    
  Chris Damitio, Project Engineer, 360-788-7400 (Bellingham)

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