More than 200 mi of median barrier have been installed on the highest volume freeways in california since 1959. The two types of median barrier are cable chain link barrier and double blocked-out median barrier. They were installed to prevent cross-median head-on accidents. This study was initiated to determine the effect of the installation on all types of accidents. The construction and maintenance costs of the two barriers were also studied. Cross-median head-on accidents have been eliminated by barrier installation, but property damage accidents and injury accidents have increased. Fatal accidents have decreased at barrier locations in spite of a few accidents involving the barriers which resulted in fatalities. The cost analysis revealed that the beam barrier is more expensive to install and that the cable barrier is more expensive to maintain. (Author/Publisher)
Abstract