CDOT’s “TIGHT CURVES” System Reduces Accidents
States with mountainous terrain frequently have ‘dead man curves’. US Hwy 50 in Colorado has two such curves paral-leling the Arkansas River. In the past, the canyon corridor between mile markers 230-231 averaged three truck rollovers annually. Spillage from the truck’s fuel combined with hazardous cargo took weeks or months to clean up. Cars consistently damaged the guardrail and replacement was frequent. In one area the drop-off is 80 feet. Colorado DOT installed stronger 3-rib, more deeply anchored guardrails, but the hazard still existed.
