Safer Barriers To Be Install Along Highway

Guardrails are going out of fashion.  The state is approving hundreds of thousands of dollars to build barriers they believe are even safer.  News On 6 anchor Craig Day reports they will keep drivers safe on one of Green Country's busiest highways.           

More than 57,000 vehicles travel on U.S. Highway 169 each day.  The median is small, and crossover accidents are always a possibility.  So the Oklahoma Department of Transportation is adding cable barriers.

"We look for areas that are high traffic counts and also areas that have a history of having crossover accidents.  This location fit both of those criteria, so we'll be putting in cable barriers over the next couple of months," said ODOT Spokesperson Kenna Mitchell.

The cable barriers will stretch from 36th Street North to 56th Street North near Bird Creek.

ODOT spokesperson Kenna Mitchell says the barriers have proven to be effective.

"There are many instances where drivers will hit it, they will be ok.  They will drive off and they won't have to call emergency services in," said Mitchell.

Right now, there are 43 miles of cable barriers in Tulsa, including on the exit ramp off the Broken Arrow Expressway onto U.S. Highway 169, and along I-44 between Lewis and 41st Street.

The cable barrier along the exit ramp off the Broken Arrow Expressway onto Highway 169 was recently hit by a vehicle.  If the cable barrier wasn't there, the car would have likely gone down the embankment and into the creek below.

ODOT says there are many advantages to using the cable barriers instead of concrete or guard rails.

"Less expensive and once we do have a problem where there is some damage, we can go in very quickly and make repairs," said Mitchell.

Crews should begin installing the cable barriers in about six weeks.  The project should be finished by July 1st.