Choosing the Right Security Road Barrier for Your Facility

Road barriers are those physical structures you usually see set out on the road. They are generally used for traffic control and management. Road barriers are particularly useful when you need to separate vehicles and traffic from cyclists or pedestrians.

They are also used during road construction for worker safety. With a road barrier in place, passers-by and property are protected from impending hazards.

Getting the right security barrier improves the safety and functionality within your facility. Get to know more about road barriers, and check out your options at All Security Equipment.

Types of Road Barriers

Road barriers are typically divided into three main categories depending on their application: traffic barriers, pedestrian barriers, and construction barriers.

Traffic Barriers

A traffic barrier, also known as a guardrail or crash barrier, keeps vehicles in their designated lane. They are often placed near road obstacles to prevent collisions and accidents.

There are also different kinds of traffic barriers:

• Jersey Barrier. Also known as the jersey wall, the jersey barrier is used to separate the traffic lane or close a lane. They are installed for traffic and crowd control or to protect a construction site. These barriers may be made of modular concrete or plastic filled with water or sand for stability.

A water-filled barrier is the most popular because it is versatile, flexible, and easy to install compared to its concrete counterparts. Concrete jersey barriers, however, are more stable and are impact-resistant.

• Concrete Barrier. A concrete jersey is made of reinforced steel and concrete. They are also modular and have a typical length of 10 feet and a height of 32 inches. Concrete barriers are installed temporarily or permanently, depending on the project.
• These are steel barriers installed beside dangerous parts of the roadway, like around cliffs and bodies of water, to contain vehicles.
• Cable Barrier. These are similar to guardrails and are designed to minimize the severity of a crash. They are more flexible but are less popularly used than guardrails because they require more space.
• Median Barrier. Median barriers are used on high-speed traffic roadways. They are longitudinal barriers that separate opposing traffic. Median barriers can be made of concrete, cable, or metal-beam rails.

Pedestrian Barrier

Pedestrian barriers are found in pathways for foot traffic. These are designed to protect pedestrians, especially on busy streets and around urban areas with high vehicle traffic.

The pedestrian barrier is similar to a regular road barrier but often has aesthetic qualities that help it blend into the surrounding urban architecture. The most common pedestrian barriers are:

• Water filled barrier
• Concrete barrier
• Fences
• Planters
• Railings
• Bollards

Bollards are the short and sometimes artistic posts installed on sidewalks. Bollards can be fixed, removable, or retractable. They serve as a traffic barricade that protects pedestrians and prevents unauthorized vehicle access.

Road Construction Barriers

Road construction barriers are the road barriers erected near construction projects. They are used to caution drivers and protect workers and passers-by while guiding the traffic flow through the construction site.

Road construction barriers are hard to miss in areas with ongoing road repairs and maintenance. These barriers sometimes utilize a jersey, cable, A-beam, or W-beam barrier.

Construction barriers are reinforced with high visibility and reflective materials. This ensures they are visible at all times, day and night, to prevent collisions.

How to Choose the Right Road Barrier

Road barriers are not only utilized on the road and for construction projects. Modular and temporary road barricades are also useful in managing crowds, such as in airports and crowded events.

Road authorities, the government, construction companies, airports, and military facilities are the main users of road barriers. Event organizers for large gatherings also deploy barriers for crowd and traffic control.

When looking for the right barrier, these things must be considered:

Road Safety Regulations

It is important to consider the road safety regulations in your area before buying a road barrier. In the US, Canada, and Australia, road barriers must comply with the MASH-16 standard. The EN 1317 standard is used in Europe.

Type of Road and Purpose of the Barrier

Different roads, traffic volumes, and speeds require different barriers. It is helpful to consider the characteristics of the specific area where the barricade is to be installed.

For example, in expressways, impact-resistant barriers are a must. High-speed roads need robust barriers to withstand and deflect impact. Light barriers may do for lower-speed roads.

Space

Consider the working width of the barrier to ensure that it will fit the prospective site without obstructing traffic. The barrier must safely operate while still allowing clear zones between it and the edge of the road.

Where to Buy Road Barriers

Road barriers are often sold in traffic equipment distributor centers. Or, you may check out some applicable road safety barrier products at All Security Equipment.

Contact our customer service team, and we will help you sort out the options to find the most suitable traffic management barrier for your project.