In hopes of cutting down on crossover crashes along a
stretch of Interstate 43 in Wisconsin, Gov. Jim Doyle has ordered the state DOT
to install cable barriers as soon as possible.
Six people have been killed since November 2005 by vehicles
crossing medians into oncoming traffic along a six-mile stretch of I-43 in Ozaukee County, The Associated Press reported.
“It’s obvious that this stretch of road is dangerous and
something needs to be done about it before more people are injured or killed,” Doyle said in a written statement.
The governor’s announcement didn’t estimate how long it
would take the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to install cable barriers
or the price tag to complete the work.
Dewayne Johnson, director of WisDOT’s southeast region, said
state funds set aside for traffic safety and hazard elimination could be tapped
to pay for the project. He said getting the barriers in place is top priority
for the agency.
The four crashes that killed six people were along a stretch
of the freeway from just south of state Route 60 in Grafton to just north of
state Route 167 in Mequon, The AP reported. The speed limit for all
vehicles along that portion of roadway is 65 mph.
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