Texas Department of Transportation crews will spend the week making repairs to guardrails in Lubbock County.
While damage is frequent, Lubbock County TX DOT Spokesperson, Dianah Ascencio, said TX DOT will normally wait for several repairs to accumulate before the contracted company is called in to make repairs.
“We actually have a multi-year contract,” Ascensio said. “And it is a little over $300,000 a year, just for Lubbock county.”
Ascencio said the guardrails, made out of thick wood and steel, are designed to withstand a high force impact, to keep cards from traveling off the roadway, but rails are left damaged.
Most wrecks happen in the winter, Ascencio said, when Texas drivers try to navigate icy roadways.
“Unfortunately that is something that happens year round,” Ascencio said. “We are constantly fixing guardrails. And I think it boils down to making sure drivers are paying attention to what they are doing, making sure that people when they do get behind the wheel they are sober, they are paying attention to the task at hand.”
Thankfully taxpayers are not left footing the bill. Ascencio said TX DOT works closely with insurance companies after an accident, to get reimbursed for the cost of repairs.
“If you are in a crash and you cause damage to the guardrail or any TX DOT facility,” Ascencio said.”Once the repairs are made, we work with your insurance company to make sure the state and the citizens are reimbursed for the repairs that we have to make.”
