2018 CARSP Conference at Victoria, BC

Safety and Cost-Effectiveness Evaluation of a 135 km Median High Tension

Cable Barrier system on a rural high speed divided highway in Alberta,
Canada
Highway 2 (Airdrie to Red Deer, and Leduc area) High Tension Cable Barrier installed in 2010

This paper describes the safety and operational impacts of the median High Tension Cable Barrier (HTCB) on
Highway 2 between Calgary and Edmonton. A total of 135 km of HTCB was installed within the median of
Highway 2 between April and July of 2010. A before and after study of collision data for a total of 10 years (2005-
2009 and 2011-2015) was conducted to review and analyze the performance of HTCB in terms of collision rate,
collision severity, societal costs, and location of HTCB within the median. An encroachment rate formula was
developed based on maintenance records and collision reports. Unreported excursions into the median were
estimated using the encroachment rate formula and the assumption that this rate is the same for all segments
within the analysis periods. Median HTCB efficiently reduced the fatal and major injury collision rates and value
of overall collisions. In general, the benefit cost analysis shows a payback period of 312 days and a benefit cost
ratio of 23.4, however this depends on the traffic volume, number of barriers used, and the lateral placement of
the barriers (either near the shoulder or near the ditch bottom). Single HTCB near median shoulder is the
preferred installation location, compared to HTCB in the centre median, and compared to using two runs
of HTCB with one near each shoulder.

Key Messages for HTCB along Highway 2

Total installation length 135 km

Posted Speed 110km/h (70mph)
Traffic Volume 30000 vpd
Capital Cost $7,500,000
Pay Back Period 312 days
Benefit Cost Ratio 23.4
Data analyzed 10 years, 5 before and 5 after installation
Number of collision records 2375
Reduces fatalities ✓
Reduces serious injuries ✓

Most effective placement one barrier on a single shoulder

The full report is located at:

http://www.transportation.alberta.ca/Content/docType233/Production/Hwy2HTCBFinalREPORT.pdf

Prepared by: Bill Kenny, Peter Mah, Lei Ma, Janine Pedregosa, Robert Xu
Contributors: Doug Goodine, Olivier Lahey

Alberta Transportation
2018 CARSP Conference at Victoria, BC

HTCB on single
shoulder:

most effective

HTCB on both
shoulders:

less cost- effective

HTCB on median
bottom:

less desirable for

collision severity
reduction

Alberta Transportation