EL PASO COUNTY — Nearly six miles of median work happening on I-25 south of Fountain, Colorado is all about improved safety and preventing deadly accidents. The grading and drainage work happening now, is the set-up to eventually install barriers to prevent out of control vehicles from crossing the median and into on-coming traffic.
"In 2019 we've seen a couple of fatalities due to median cross-over crashes," said Colorado Department of Transportation’s, Michelle Peulen. In those accidents people lost their lives. Deadly accidents on this stretch of I-25 have been too common in recent years.
The plan is high tension cable barriers, rather than guardrails. "Guardrail, occasionally you can bounce back into traffic," said Peulen. Installing high tension cable helps minimize disaster both directions. “The cable barriers in essence tie your car up and keeps you in one place. Keeps you from crossing over the median and keeps you from bouncing back into traffic." The end goal is no more cross-over accidents.
Construction work is happening overnight to minimize impact on traffic. Drivers need to be aware, inside lanes of I-25 along the site are restricted during work.
