FDOT District 1:
Alligator Alley Cable Barrier System

Collier County, Florida

American was responsible for the design portion of this design-build project for a 50-mile cable barrier to prevent errant vehicles from straying into the canals and to facilitate officer response to the crash locations along I-75 (Alligator Alley) in Collier County. Alligator Alley is a 50 mile, four-lane divided interstate roadway with canals running parallel for most of the length along each side. The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) brought attention to a disturbing trend of fatal crashes involving the canal. Errant vehicles would crash through the wildlife fence with the fence giving way and then collapsing back into place. Officers were often unable to locate the crash and it is suspected that some of the victims would have survived their injuries had they not drowned in the canal. Between 1995 and 1999, 14 fatalities occurred as a result of 56 crashes involving the canal.

American designed an innovation cable system that integrated into the existing wildlife fencing. The system featured a solar powered strobe light that would be triggered upon impact allowing the FHP officers to quickly locate the crash sight.

This project has received the FDOT’s 2004 Chairman’s Award for raising the bar on safety on Florida’s Toll Facilities, FICE 2005 Grand Award for Engineering Excellence-Transportation, and ACEC 2005 Honor Award for engineering excellence.