New WSDOT barriers can help save workers’ lives

More than 1,600 work-zone collisions in Washington last year is why the Washington State Department of Transportation is testing a new metal mobile barrier.

There is an average of four such crashes a day in Washington state.

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A work-zone crash on Interstate 5 near Vancouver this summer demonstrated the usefulness of barriers. During that crash, workers were protected by a steel mobile barrier. It’s essentially a steel wall that’s towed on a trailer and set up to deflect cars driving at freeway speeds.

The driver who crashed his pickup was OK, but was cited for 32 counts of reckless endangerment and DUI — one count for every person in the work zone.

But it’s not just about safety.

WSDOT says the barrier reduces the time for construction closures.

“You’re not having to do an entire mobile operation with multiple vehicles to set out cones or barrels and then come back through and get started on the work. You come in, set up and get to work,” said Tamara Greenwell with WSDOT.

WSDOT is renting the safety barrier and testing it out to see if the state is interested in buying a few of them.