Guard cable stretches across 500 miles of Missouri interstates. Cable was installed at locations where medians are less than 60 feet wide.

Crews graded the median and laid a bed of gravel in preparation for installing the posts.

Holes were predrilled to hold

the three-foot-long steel posts.

Anchors are placed at the end of each stretch of guard cable to provide the strength and support needed to help

the cable do its job. Each anchor requires 10,000

pounds of concrete.

Crews excavate and pour

concrete for the guard cable

anchors

MoDOT contracts installation and repair of guard cable. Mid-Missouri work started in 2004.

Workers adjust the end assemblies to make sure the cable has the proper tension.

A completed anchor assembly.

Guard cables are not designed to prevent large vehicles, such as tractor-trailers, from crossing the median. However, there have been several cases where the cable has stopped large vehicles from crossing the median.

These routes have the following miles of guard cable installed:

•I-435 - 14 miles

•I-70 - 180 miles

•I-44 - 250 miles

•I-55 - 20 miles

•I-29 - 35 miles

Guarding Missourians Against Head-on Collisions

• Head-on collisions are some of the most severe and deadly crashes on our roadways.

• Between 1996 and 2006, 404 people have been killed and 3,170 injured in crossover crashes on Interstates 44, 55, and 70.

• Median guard cables have significantly reduced the number and severity of cross-median crashes.

• The three-strand, low-tension cable is designed to “catch” a vehicle before it crosses into the opposing traffic lanes.

• A MoDOT study shows the guard cable in place in Missouri has prevented vehicles from crossing the median 95 percent of the time.

• Nearly 500 miles will be installed by the end of 2007.