Centerline Rumble Strips Scheduled for Installation in Some Central Roads

From the City of Central

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) installed centerline rumble strips last week on Hwy 64 from Plank Rd to Liberty Rd as part of safety improvements along state highways.  New striping and reflectors will be installed soon as well.

Work on the $1.37 million project involves installing centerline rumble strips on over 186 miles of state highways in DOTD District 61, which includes Ascension, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Pointe Coupee, St. James, West Baton Rouge and West Feliciana parishes.  In Central, the rumble strip installations are only being done on Hwy 64 at this time.  Just outside of Central, centerline rumble strips will be installed along Greenwell Springs Rd from Liberty Rd north approx. 7.5 miles.

The city of Central has a similar project scheduled for 2012 through the cooperation of DOTD and the Local Road Safety Program from a grant submitted by David Barrow, Chief Administrative Officer for the city.  This will involve the installation of centerline rumble strips along sections of curves on Lovett Rd, Devall Rd, Denham Rd, and Frenchtown Rd.

Centerline rumble strips are grooved patterns that are grinded into the center of a roadway. They work by producing a noise and vibration that alerts drivers that they are beginning to leave their travel lane. Installing centerline rumble strips is a way to prevent head-on collisions and opposite-direction sideswipe crashes on two-lane roadways. According to the 2010 Highway Safety Manual published by the American Association of State and Transportation Officials, installing centerline rumble strips can reduce these crashes by 15%.

"The safety of the traveling public is the number one priority at DOTD," said DOTD Secretary Sherri. H. LeBas. "Installing centerline rumble strips is yet another way that we can help to prevent crashes and increase safety on Louisiana’s roadways."