This morning I received another traffic advisory from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, this time related to I-24 and the installation of additional cable barriers:
A contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) is in the final phases of median cable barrier installation along Interstate 24 in Christian County between the U.S. 41-Alernate Hopkinsville/Ft. Campbell Interchange at Exit 86 and the Kentucky-Tennessee State Line.
The cables are up. However, finish work is continuing. This week the contractor plans to place gravel along the median shoulder to connect the shoulder to the concrete base of the cable barrier. This activity will require a moving lane restriction along the work zone. The contractor will then come back to chip and seal the area along the media shoulder.
This phase will require all traffic to be moved to the right-hand or driving lane in the work zone. Motorists should use extra caution due to trucks moving into and out of the work site.
In Christian County, this work zone begins near the U.S. 41-Alternate Exit 86 interchange at mile point 85.5 and extends to the Kentucky/Tennessee line at mile point 93.4. This section is a continuation of a nearly 16-mile cable barrier installation project in Christian County completed in July of this year.
Placement of median cable barriers is determined by traffic volume and crash data. Kentucky has more than 240 miles of barrier installed or in the process of installation — most of it along interstates and highways in urban areas.
This year, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has budgeted $6.1 million for median barrier installation. The cost per mile averages $140,000 to $150,000 per mile.
The project was awarded to the George B. Stone Company, of Sharpsburg. Completion is expected in mid-October.