By Nathan Petersen
Utah Department of Transportation''s newly installed cable barriers are cheaper and safer than concrete barriers.
The cable barriers were installed eight months ago in three locations, two in Utah County on Interstate 15 and one on Interstate 215.
UDOT is installing more than 20 miles of barrier throughout Utah. The new cable barriers use high-tensioned cables, strung between 12-foot posts. More cable barriers will be installed later.
The tension of the cables helps guide a car that has impacted the barrier back into its lane. The new barriers have prevented cars from crossing over into oncoming traffic.
Trinity Industries designed and patented the new road barriers, Cable Safety Systems, also known as CASS.
'For the taxpayers, it is much cheaper and quicker,' said Lt. Ken Peay of the Utah Highway Patrol. 'For a police officer it seems to be doing the job it''s supposed to do.'
Over the next 30 years, CASS will begin appearing more and more in Utah, replacing the old concrete barriers.
UDOT is also looking at the possibility of using the CASS barriers for other road projects, such as shoulder applications, said Robert Hull, UDOT engineer for traffic and safety.
Since the installation of the cable barriers, the barriers had 35 'hits' with only one reported injury, Peay said.
'It''s definitely going to save some lives,' he said.