I-90 westbound lane closure begins Aug. 12 from Hwy 42 to Olmsted Co. Rd.10 for cable median barrier installation
EYOTA, Minn. – Westbound Interstate 90 motorists from Hwy 42 to Olmsted County Road 10 will encounter a left lane closure in the westbound lanes beginning Aug. 12 as crews begin installing high-tension cable median barrier, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
The lane closure in Olmsted County will be approximately 5 miles in length. InSite Contracting, Inc. is the prime contractor on the $831,000 project. Work is scheduled to be completed by the end of October.
The barriers are made of four steel cables strung on posts. When a car hits the barrier, the posts break and the cables flex, absorbing much of a crash’s kinetic energy. This redirects the vehicle along the median, preventing a cross-median crash.
MnDOT has evaluated the performance of cable median barriers and determined that nearly all of the fatal and serious injury cross median crashes have been eliminated where the barrier has been installed. There are restrictions on where cable median barrier can be installed but MnDOT is moving forward with strategic installations in locations where the risk of cross median crashes are the highest. To learn more, visit MnDOT’s website about cable median barriers.
Safety in work zones
Motorists should always be prepared to encounter traffic changes when approaching work zones including lane closures, lane shifts, uneven road surfaces, slow-moving heavy equipment and slow or stopped traffic. To keep everyone safe, drivers must:
- Obey posted speed limits. The fine for speeding in a work zone is $300.
- Drive undistracted. Avoid using cell phones, mobile devices, adjusting the radio – even eating –while in work zones.
- Move over. Give workers room to safely complete their work.
- Know before you go. Get real-time information about traffic and road conditions at www.511mn.org or get the free 511mn smartphone app at Google Play or the App Store.
- Be patient. Expect delays, especially during peak travel times.
- Do the zipper merge.
- Avoid making unnecessary lane changes.
- Never enter a road blocked with barriers or cones.
Stay connected, informed
- Check out other MnDOT southeast Minnesota construction projects and sign up for construction updates.
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