Cable barriers must be properly maintained

Even under the best of conditions, driving on portions of Interstates 26 and 81 can be particularly maddening for considerate motorists. Speeding and aggressive driving is often a problem on the interstate.Given the heavy traffic on our local interstates, such bad behavior can prove to be dangerous to other drivers. It’s particularly dangerous when the road surfaces become covered with ice and snow.In the case of I-26, it’s the narrow confines of the left and right lanes that snake through the city that cause concern. That’s why appropriate safety barriers are needed to prevent head-on crashes along narrow sections of the interstate in Johnson City.It’s disconcerting to see sections of the longitudinal cable barriers along both sides of the I-26 median through Johnson City damaged or missing — no doubt the result of traffic mishaps. Head-on crashes involving vehicles crossing lanes have been a major cause of highway fatalities in this country.These flexible barriers, which are designed to prevent cars from crossing over and colliding with oncoming traffic, have done their job. But, as we’ve noted before in this space, what about the next accident?These cable barriers must be properly maintained and repaired much more quickly if they are going to be effective safety devices. The Tennessee Department of Transportation has made progress in this regard, but more is still needed.



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