Road Barriers: What Are They and How Are They Used

Road barriers improve the flow of traffic while keeping pedestrians, cyclists and construction workers safe.

They are primarily used by government, transportation, highway and road authorities. Other key users include construction companies, airports, event organizers, military facilities, logistic companies and more.

Road barriers come in many different shapes and sizes, and can also be referred to as:

Jersey barriers are modular concrete or plastic barriers often used to divide lanes, manage traffic flow, and protect construction zones. They can be filled with water or sand for added stability.

When you’re on a road trip and pass a construction zone, chances are you will be passing at least a couple of jersey barriers being used to divide traffic lanes or close a lane altogether. And although at the time it may seem like an inconvenience, these barriers are great for keeping drivers and construction workers safe.

Concrete barriers are a type of jersey barrier.  These barriers provide a long-term solution for separating a roadway, whereas plastic jersey barriers are more suited for temporary solutions. As the name suggests, they are made of concrete and can withstand higher force and harsher conditions than a jersey barrier.

Another common type of road barrier is guardrails. Typically made of steel, guardrails prevent vehicles from leaving the roadway and colliding with obstacles. They are almost always used in areas where the terrain beside the road can be dangerous for drivers, like on roads with bodies of water or steep cliffs.

Guardrails come in a few different shapes and sizes. Two of the most commons types of guardrails are A beam barriers and W beam barriers. Each named after the shape they make when constructed.

Cable barriers are often used in similar situations where a guardrail would be used, but it’s important to look at each individual scenario to determine which option is best. Designed to reduce the severity of crashes and enhance overall road safety, guardrails are made of steel cables tensioned between posts, forming a flexible barrier that can absorb and redirect the energy of a vehicle upon impact.

Because they are flexible, they require more space than a guardrail. For this reason, guardrails are often a better choice for roads running along steep cliffs or bodies of water.