Funding approved for highway cable barriers

Six median cable barrier projects totaling about 90 miles were pushed forward by the Iowa Transportation Commission today at the commission's meeting in Dubuque.

Gov. Chet Culver called for speedier construction of the cable barriers last summer to reverse a surge in cross-median crashes on the state's divided highways.

A total of $5.85 million for cable barriers was moved into the state's current highway plan fas part of a program amendment approved Tuesday.

The barriers prevent vehicles crossing the median from entering the oncoming lane of travel.

The following projects were approved:

• I-380 in Johnson County from I-80 to 1.2 miles north of Linn County ($845,000)
• I-80 in Cedar County frojmm east of the Junction of Highway 38 to County Road Y-30 ($585,000)
• I-80 in Polk County from Highway 65 to Highway 14 ($1.43 million)
• I-80 in Jasper County from Highway  14 to four miles east of Highway 146 ($1.495 million).
• I-80 in Dallas County from Highway 169 to I-35 ($845,000)
• I-35 in Warren County from Clarke County to County Road G50 ($650,000).

The commission also moved forward other projects that were ready to build for which funding was available. They included pavement rehabilitation on Highway 151 from Highway 30 to Mount Vernon Road in Linn County, at a cost of $1.94 million.

“I'm excited to see these projects pushed up because they will really improve the safety of our highways,” commission member Amy Reasner of Cedar Rapids said.

Funding the projects was possible because of good prices on fiscal year 2010 bid-lettings, additional federal funding made available after the program was approved in June and efforts by the Iowa Department of Transportation to reduce operating expenses.