What Is A Jersey Barrier?
What Is A Jersey Barrier?
Safety is the most important factor when it comes to carrying out roadworks or construction projects adjacent to a road. A jersey barrier is one of the most effective methods of protecting workers and other road users alike; however, what is a jersey barrier, and how do they work?
In this latest blog, we thought we would take a closer look at what a jersey barrier is and answer some of the most common questions our customers have.
What is a jersey barrier?
When it comes to protecting your roadwork or construction site, a concrete barrier is one of the most effective methods of stopping errant vehicles. A jersey barrier is one of the most common forms of concrete barrier on the market and is designed to help minimise the damage caused by a colliding vehicle and prevent it from entering head-on traffic.
These robust and highly durable safety barriers are very effective at rerouting traffic and ensuring that all pedestrians passing by are kept safe. Here at RPM Hire, we know how beneficial a jersey barrier can be to your project. That is why we offer our customers the proven Deltabloc DB80 concrete solution.
The DeltaBloc DB80 is an incredibly strong and robust solution that is fully compliant with all Australian road standards. Our highly experienced team is able to deliver, install and remove these barriers for your next project, ensuring you can have complete peace of mind that your site is fully protected.
Why is it called a jersey barrier?
One of the most common questions we are asked here at RPM Hire is, “why is it called a jersey barrier?” In the simplest term, the name derives from the region that they were first used in. The first concrete barriers were introduced in California in 1946 along a particularly dangerous stretch of road. Before this, barriers were made from wood, but as vehicles advanced, they could no longer stop errant cars.
A few years later, New Jersey decided to adopt a similar approach; however, they tweaked the California design to create their own concrete structures. Alongside a different design with a sloped side to minimise damage to impacting vehicles, they also embedded steel to reinforce the barriers and maximise their strength.
Such was the success of New Jersey’s barriers; they were quickly adopted elsewhere and are the same design we see today!
How much does a jersey barrier weigh?
Now we have answered the question, “why is it called a jersey barrier?” we thought we would move on to the next common query we receive, “how much does a jersey barrier weigh?” The overall weight of a jersey barrier will depend on its size and construction.
The Deltabloc DB80 that we provide here at RPM Hire offers some of the highest levels of protection available but is also one of the lightest versions. Per metre, the DB80 weighs 520kg.
What are the key features of the DeltaBloc DB80 jersey barrier?
The DeltaBloc DB80 jersey barrier that we offer our clients is one of the best options for improving the safety of any roadwork or construction work zone. These incredibly low-maintenance concrete barriers provide an unrivalled level of containment and protection, making them perfect for a wide range of uses.
Each DB80 barrier also offers a range of installation options, including the ability to be free-standing, bolted or pinned. This ensures that they can quickly be replaced should they become damaged, ensuring that every site is able to enjoy continuous protection.
Our Delta DB80 barriers measure in at 800mm in height and 580mm in width. To ensure that you are able to protect your worksite, no matter the size, our jersey barrier solutions are available in a range of lengths, including two, four and six metres.
What level of protection does a jersey barrier provide?
Jersey barriers are renowned for their strength and protection, and the DeltaBloc DB80 options that we offer here at RPM Hire are MASH tested to level three. A MASH rating is an industry-recognised criteria for testing roadside safety hardware.
The Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH) guidelines are continuously evolving as vehicles become faster and stronger and technology advances. The basis of the testing is to create a uniform guideline for both permanent and temporary roadside equipment, ensuring that drivers, workers and pedestrians are kept safe.
Each test is undertaken under strict conditions, reviewing how the barriers perform in terms of stopping a moving vehicle and its overall installation. The DeltaBloc concrete jersey barrier has achieved one of the highest MASH ratings possible, approved to TL-3. This means that the barriers are capable of being hit by trucks of up to 2,270kg, travelling at up to 100km, and impacting the barrier at an angle of 25 degrees.
Which barrier is right for you?
While there can be no denying the importance of barriers for road safety, finding the right option for your next project can be tough. There is a huge range of styles on the market, each one designed to provide a specific level of protection depending on the size of your construction site and the speeds at which vehicles pass by.
While concrete barriers are amongst the oldest style available, they remain incredibly effective. However, in recent years, water-filled barriers have become increasingly more popular thanks to their versatility and quick installation, while technology has also created more advanced smart crash cushions that are capable of being impacted from all directions.
Need help finding the right crash barrier for your project?
No matter whether you are looking for a jersey barrier or a Smart crash cushion, our team at RPM Hire is here to help you. Since 2011, we have been providing exceptional quality and roadside equipment to customers across Australia.
We know the importance of safety and keeping your workers protected from passing traffic. That is why we offer a huge array of safety barriers designed to suit any construction project, striving to deliver unrivalled customer service to give you complete peace of mind.
Our highly experienced team will also deliver, install and remove every barrier, meaning you do not need to worry about anything. Want to find out more about our range of products and how we can help you? Get in touch today!
