As an emergency services provider I’d like to offer a response to H. Bruce Miller’s opinion piece in the January 15 issue about installing a Jersey Barrier on Hwy 97.
I believe in Jersey Barriers; they save lives. But there are many concerns that communities must weigh before committing to those barriers. I am no traffic expert, but with 28 years of emergency service experience I must weigh in on the negatives that I see. The first is response time for those called to help (in a timely manner) to the scene of an accident or other emergency. The barriers on I-5 are one example. Between Brooks and Woodburn the barrier has contributed to increased response times. If an accident is, for example, just a half-mile south of Woodburn in the northbound lanes, emergency services must come from Brooks and travel up to twelve miles to provide assistance.
Secondly, there are also public safety issues presented by the public being forced to make u-turns in the breaks between the barriers on a busy highway. That move is very dangerous for all drivers, including the emergency providers (especially with highway speeds and the turning radius of our apparatus); this alone could increase accident rates.
Finally, ODOT would have the accurate stats, but highways such as Hwy. 20 W and Hwy. 58 have far more fatalities per vehicle mile, and one cannot simply Jersey Barrier from here to California, or Washington. These facts may not outweigh the loss of life in head-on collisions for most, but please consider the many variables that contribute to safe roadways and driving habits.
Concerned First Responder
This article appears in Jan 22-28, 2009.
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“Secondly, there are also public safety issues presented by the public being forced to make u-turns in the breaks between the barriers on a busy highway.”
Suggestion: Allow emergency vehicles to use those breaks to make U-turns, but make it illegal for the general public to do it. It’s already illegal to make a U-turn in the middle of Highway 97.
Let’s also not forget that people who live and own businesses along Highway 97 need to have access to their properties. We don’t need to make it any harder for customers to access our facility. The fact of the matter is, Highway 97 is not a dangerous highway, and the jersey barriers are unnecessary. We’ve been using this Highway for over 5 years, now, and have only witnessed one accident due to crossing the center median. And, whether it’s illegal or not, if barriers are installed, drivers will make u-turns, making the situation truly dangerous. Why spend all that money, and make it harder on business people, property owners, and emergency personnel to fix a “problem” that doesn’t exist?