BOONE/CALLAWAY COUNTIES - This spring, construction crews will begin installing guard cable in the median between the northbound and southbound lanes of U.S. Route 63 from Jefferson City to I-70 in Columbia. The work is being done to increase safety by reducing the potential for cross-over crashes.

Today, the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission awarded the construction contract to APAC - Missouri, Inc. of Columbia, Mo. after they submitted the lowest bid of $2,371,776.17.

Median guard cable, made of three strands of steel cable, is designed to "catch" a vehicle before it crosses into the opposing traffic lanes, bringing it to a stop before it collides with other vehicles. It's generally used where medians are 60 feet wide or less.

MoDOT began using guard cable in 2002 on Interstates 70 and 44 and has since installed more than 600 miles of cable in the medians of the state's busiest highways.

The success rate in Missouri has been significant. A study completed on Interstate 70 showed that guard cable succeeded in stopping cars from crossing into the opposing lanes of traffic more than 98 percent of the time. And, while guard cables are not designed to prevent large vehicles, such as tractor-trailers, from crossing the median, there have been numerous cases where the stretchable cable has kept large vehicles from entering the opposing lane of traffic.

"More than 24,000 vehicles travel Route 63 daily between Jefferson City and Columbia," said Jason Vanderfeltz, MoDOT Transportation Project Manager. "Our goal is to install the cables where they have the greatest potential for reducing crashes along highly traveled highways with vehicles traveling at greater speeds. The cables have proven successful on several of the interstate highways in Missouri and we believe they will also provide a great benefit for motorists using Route 63."

Nearly 25 miles of guard cable will be installed on Route 63 beginning in early April. The project also includes upgrading some of the guard rail on various bridges along the route. The work will take place through summer and motorists should expect lane closures.

For more information about this project, please call 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636) or log onto www.modot.org/central.

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