With business access directly off the highway and unrestricted left-turn movements, a high number of crashes had been documented in the State Route 68 corridor transecting Golden Valley, Arizona. Due to the safety concerns associated with the three-mile corridor, the design and construction of a raised median were funded through the federal Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP). Matrix reviewed crash data for the corridor to determine where access locations with protected acceleration lanes within the median should be positioned to allow left turns.

A raised median presented challenges on a high-speed facility, with the face of the curb having to meet maximum slope and upper curb radius measures to ensure compliance with American Association of State ​Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) guidelines and the Arizona Department of Transportation’s (ADOT) Roadway Design Guidelines. Matrix led extensive coordination with ADOT Roadway, ADOT Northwest District, and Mohave County to achieve a safe, cost-effective, and compliant solution. Ultimately, the construction of the raised median utilized an extruded pinned curb that allowed for quick and safe construction while limiting the overall project cost.