By Associated Press
Birmingham, AL – Alabama transportation officials plan 43 more miles of barrier along Interstates 65 and 85 through five counties.
The traffic safety project began in 2003. Officials say it cut the number of highway crossover deaths from 49 to 27 by the following year.
The barriers will be installed in Lee, Macon, Butler, Lowndes and Montgomery Counties.
Department of Transportation spokesman Tony Harris says the number of deaths declined to 20 last year. The state has spent $18 million for barrier rail and plans to spend about $7 million more this year.
Currently, there are more than 215 miles of barrier along the interstates. That means barriers are in place along about 24 percent of the state's 878 miles of interstate.