A median is a physical barrier or strip separating opposing traffic lanes on a roadway. Medians can be raised concrete barriers, landscaped strips, painted areas, or wide paved sections. They improve safety by preventing head-on collisions, controlling left turns, and providing refuge for pedestrians crossing wide roads. Landscaped medians enhance streetscape aesthetics and can include trees, plantings, and stormwater management features. Municipal transportation departments design and maintain medians as part of road infrastructure. Median design balances safety, access needs for adjacent properties, emergency vehicle passage, and maintenance requirements. Raised medians are more effective but limit access, while painted medians provide less separation.