In a couple of months, construction will begin on interstates across North Dakota to improve traffic safety. As our Malique Rankin reports, not all drivers think these changes will mean more safety.

The Department of Transportation has plans to install cable barriers along the median of North Dakota interstates. For Bismarck, construction will start this summer. Motorcycle drivers are concerned these barriers will eliminate their escape routes when drivers don’t see them, or hurt them more than if the barriers weren’t there at all.

Lonnie Bertsch; ABATE Exec Director: “Any barrier a motorcycle hits is going to be hazardous to us. But a cable barrier is probably the most devastating.”

Lonnie Bertsch works for American riders aiming towards education. 
He knows the cables can help most drivers on the road, but the benefits for bikes are slim.

Lonnie Bertsch: “Well the only benefit would be the crossover, a safety feature which is why they were designed.”

Sgt. Wade Kadrmas with the State Patrol offered a simple solution for bikers concerned with the barriers.

Sgt. Wade Kadrmas: “Well there’s only going to be one going down the middle of the median. So the motorcycle drivers should drive in the lane furthest away from the cable.”

Kadrmas says the safety this offers will far outweigh any consequences.

Kadrmas: “I can think off the top of my head, I’ve seen it several times where vehicles have crossed the road and impacted vehicles in the opposite lane. It looks like these barriers will be placed in higher traffic areas.”

Bertsch says with construction beginning in a few months, bikers will have to take more caution.

Construction in Bismarck, Fargo and Grand Forks will begin this summer. Next year, barriers will be installed in Mandan.