Deadly I-65 area will see changes

MUNFORDVILLE — In an effort to reduce crossover accidents and increase safety, Kentucky will spend $10.8 million to add barrier cables in five counties along Interstate 65. There will be 10.5 miles of the barrier cable added on Interstate 65 from the 52.4 mile marker in Barren County to the 62.9 mile marker in Hart County. This is the first part of a plan to add the barrier cables to parkways and interstates in Kentucky. Gov. Steve Beshear and state Transportation Secretary Joe Prather made the announcement today at the rest area on I-65 south in Hart County. The barriers will help keep motorists safe by preventing crossover accidents, Beshear said. The sections of I-65 were chosen after studies listed them among the most likely for crossover accidents, Prather said. It was important that engineers carefully look at what areas of the state were most in need of barrier cables, he said. The locations could not be picked randomly. “Recently it appeared as though there was a rash of crossover accidents in this area,” Beshear said. Beshear referenced the March 19 crash in which five people - David H. McGrath, Madeline McGrath and Megan McGrath of Auburn and Myra Lawson and Cassandra Lawson of Elizabethtown - were killed after a crossover crash. Several members of the Lawson family attended today’s announcement. “We know these barrier cables won’t do anything for your loss, but hopefully they will prevent similar accidents in the future,” Beshear said. Since the accident, members of the Lawson family have become advocates for barriers to prevent crossover accidents. Studies in other parts of Kentucky have shown that barrier cables have been struck 385 times and prevented vehicles from crossing into opposing traffic, Beshear said. Highway safety is a priority in his administration, Beshear said. “Protection of human health and safety is a fundamental responsibility of government,” he said. “We are committed to making our highways safer, and I am convinced that this action I’m announcing today will result in lives saved and many serious injuries prevented.” This year, deaths from crashes on Kentucky roads are down 12 percent compared to the same time last year, he said. There have been 367 deaths this year compared to 419 in 2008. “But those are still too many - we refuse to be satisfied,” Beshear said. Prather said when he first met with Beshear about becoming secretary, they discussed goals of making roads safer. “Our hope is that long-term these cables will be on every Kentucky highway where they would help save lives,” he said. Kentucky is on its way to improving safety on its parkways and interstates, Beshear said. “This is the first step in identifying problem crossover crash systems on our interstate system. As additional money becomes available, we will continue to address priority areas,” he said. Other sections of roadway involved in this project include I-65 in Hardin and Bullitt counties and the Gene Snyder Freeway in Jefferson County.
Read Full Story