Here’s a question from a reader about Highway 101:

What the heck are they doing in the center divide along 101 through Ukiah/Redwood Valley? Us locals would really like to know. What is the concrete-sidewalk-type strip they are installing in the center divide all through Ukiah and north into Redwood Valley? Is this a pedestrian-friendly sidewalk? A bike lane (in the center divide)? What are our bottomless tax dollars being spent on here? Again, us locals would love to know. M.

Work is under way on Highway 101 in Ukiah to install a cable median barrier. Click to enlarge. Caltrans photo

Here’s the answer from Caltrans spokesman Phil Frisbie Jr. and a couple of photos:

Caltrans has a $2.6 million project to install cable median barrier along an 11-mile section of Route 101 from just south of Ukiah to the intersection of Routes 20/101 at Calpella. It is designed to reduce the number and severity of crossover collisions as the projected traffic volumes increase along this section of Route 101. What has been installed so far are the in-ground pockets for the steel posts which will hold up the steel cables and the concrete weed barrier that will reduce future maintenance costs by eliminating mowing around and under the posts and cables.

Cable median barrier is much less costly than metal beam guardrail (MBGR). Because it has more give than MBGR it reduces the impact to a vehicle and its occupants, but because of that give it can only be used where the median is wide enough. Also, after most collisions the cables can be reset on the posts within hours instead of the days or weeks it takes to get the specialized MBGR repair equipment onsite.

Here's what the cable median barrier will look like when done. This barrier is on Interstate 5 near Redding. Caltrans photo