Why Are They Called Jersey Barriers?

Author Tillie Fabbri

Posted Dec 9, 2022

Reads 73

Photo of Man Sitting on Yellow Corvette Stingray

If you’ve ever seen those large, concrete blocks in the middle of a highway – they’re called “jersey barriers.” Despite their name, these barriers don’t actually have anything to do with the state of New Jersey. So why are they called jersey barriers?

It all goes back to their original purpose and design. To quickly break it down for you, Jersey Barriers were delivered as precast concrete products and used to close off or separate lanes on highways or roads – much like jersey-style fencing that is used on sports fields today. The word ‘jersey’ here refers to the style of fencing that was originally implemented on roadways in New Jersey way back in 1951 when a local engineer designed them after seeing how well this fence-like construction worked at protecting sports fields from being overrun by cars or other vehicles. As such, these large concrete blocks came to be known by what they were modeled after - the iconic jersey fence used across multiple athletic arenas.

These days jersey barriers are still commonly seen along busy highways everywhere, thanks largely in part due to their inexpensive costs and simple installation process compared to more permanent “roadside guardrails.” In addition, safety regulations also play a big part in keeping these popular dividers intact throughout many areas – so if you see some just know that there is meaning behind why they show up so often!

What is the purpose of jersey barriers?

Jersey barriers are an essential part of safety infrastructure around the world. They’re frequently seen on highways, military bases, college campuses, sports stadiums and more. But what exactly is their purpose?

Jersey barriers are a type of traffic-control device used to separate lanes of traffic and protect against vehicle intrusion. They were originated on highways in New Jersey as a low-cost solution to other concrete or steel barriers that were used at the time. Their shape – short, wide and flat – makes them particularly effective in blocking vehicles from entering certain areas while still allowing pedestrian traffic to pass through.

Because they’re short and wide they can also be easily stacked or connected together with metal strips so that they form large walls or even entire fences that are often used around parking garages or military compounds where high levels of security access is required. In addition to preventing drivers from crossing over into certain lanes/areas, jersey barriers can also be used for crowd control along roadsides during parades and festivals in order to keep pedestrians away from vehicular traffic

Finally another major use for jersey barriers is flood control purposes by setting up temporary water walls that allow water levels behind them to rise without infiltrating nearby homes and structures (though more strong measures such as sandbags may be necessary for certain severe cases). There was a tremendous amount of success using these during Hurricane Katrina incidents where many lives were spared due too quick action with setting up just the right amounts of jerry blocks walls!! As you can see this example alone speaks volumes about just how powerful and essential jersey barriers can truly become when it comes to protecting property or even lifestyles when natural disasters occur!

Jersey Barriers have become increasingly popular worldwide due their low cost construction material and versatile usage options! Whether its protecting highways, crowds, flood zones or military compounds - these simple yet highly effective designs have made all our everyday life much safer & relatively stress free!

How are jersey barriers used?

Jersey barriers are a versatile and effective solution for many traffic control needs. They are most recognized as large, precast concrete blocks that serve as physical dividers between two areas. Originally developed in the mid-1960s by the New Jersey Department of Transportation, they’ve since become commonplace in public works departments across the country.

One of the primary uses of jersey barriers is to provide a safe way to control vehicle movement on highways and other roads. By separating vehicles from each other and from pedestrians, these barriers help protect drivers from potential accidents due to high speed collisions or impaired driving. It is also a cost efficient way to protect workers when construction is going on along the roadway without having to stop traffic for hours at time.

Additionally, jersey barriers can be used for crowd control at gatherings like festivals or protests. Unlike metal fences used in similar scenarios, jersey barriers absorb most of an impacting force which makes them more forgiving against shoving protesters or other more dangerous forms of resistance that could put others at risk if not monitored properly

Finally, jersey barriers can be instrumental during natural disasters when transportation routes may become blocked or disrupted due to heavy rains and flooding. The additional height provided by these barricades helps deter water flows away from homes and business while providing security against potentially destructive debris flowing down highways or streets nearby

Ultimately, the uses for jersey barriers are vast; From separating vehicles on highways safely during daily commutes; protecting workers while they’re operating near roadways; safeguarding crowds during festivals or protests; serving as an effective first line defense against hurricanes and floods; there numerous situations where this tried-and-true product can play a role in making out world just slightly safer one day at a time.

When were jersey barriers invented?

Cement jersey barriers, often referred to as "Jersey walls", are a popular sight on the roadsides of many countries. Although similar physical obstacles have been utilized since ancient times, the relatively uniform construction and design of these concrete walls has earned them their modern moniker.

The invention of jersey barriers can be traced back to 1961 when they were developed in New Jersey by German scientist Karl Koch - hence where they get their name. The original design was an improved version of temporary train station barricades used during World War II, meant to protect troops from shrapnel flying through the air caused by exploding bombs and shells.

These new concrete structures proved to be incredibly effective at minimizing the risk of traffic accidents while also preventing drivers from deviating into unsafe areas or ontoprivate property that is off-limits. As such, it wasn'tlong before similar models gained traction amongst governmental agencies across Europe and eventually around the world due totheir notable success in reducing vehicle-related casualties generally associated with roadways.

Even today it’s hard to go anywhere without seeing a few rows of Jersey barrior along major highways or streets – and we certainly have Karl Koch’s brilliance for that!

Who invented jersey barriers?

The invention of the jersey barrier is credited to civil engineer Clifford Brown from Chattanooga, Tennessee. In 1958, Mr. Brown was inspired by the need for an improved road barrier and developed the jersey barrier prototype in his garage workshop.

At the time, metal rails were commonly used as highway dividers and weren’t very effective in keeping cars at bay. After experimenting with several materials and designs, he settled on concrete for its strength and durability for creating barriers along highways. His design eventually became known as “jersey barriers” due to their resemblance to milk bottles traditionally used in dairy production in New Jersey.

Since its inception, the jersey barrier has become a standard on-street protective feature across many countries around the world providing security during construction work and blocking highway accesses during military maneuvers or political rallies The nifty design offered by Mr.. Brown provides stability when stacked and can be quickly moved or reorganized to form complex barricades that bring added value protecting both people and property from busy streets or unforeseen occasions of unrest away from civilian life.

Mr Brown was awarded several patents related to his invention stemming between 1966 through 1982 despite not receiving direct recognition by any particular company or state agency throughout this period he continued developing variations of his original design which today serves different applications everywhere in places such as airports runways crowd control areas commercial parking lots factory plants etc.. Jersey barriers continue being one of Clifford Browns most renowned contributions giving him certainly a place among American innovators often forgotten but materialized nowadays all around us!

What is the history behind jersey barriers?

Jersey barriers, also known as concrete road barriers or k-rail, were first introduced by the New Jersey Highway Authority in the early 1960s. Originally designed to function as temporary traffic barriers that could be quickly moved and set up on roadsides or between lanes of traffic, the design virtually eliminated vehicular accidents involving head-on collisions.

The unique design of jersey barriers places has proven to be incredibly effective in reducing injury and fatalities due to car accidents. The sturdy structures are characterized by their slanted sides and a curved top which minimizes reflection off headlights and provides an effective barrier between traffic pathways while being considerably easier to install than metal guardrails.

In addition to providing increased safety on highways around the world, jersey barriers also serve an environmental purpose due its ability to reduce soil erosion along embankments because of its low profile structure.. Rolling terrain has made jersey barriers extremely popular for situations where rigidity is required for control during floods or landslides caused by natural disasters.

Not limiting itself solely with highway uses, car parks are now frequently lined with Jersey Barriers due their precast nature and ability to provide buildings' access points from outlying parking areas. Additionally, many local community businesses use them for protection against moveable objects like footballs from entering there establishments grounds during off peak hours like weekend evenings when kids would want use a public playground come in contact with them under improper circumstances; They are even found on public sidewalks serving as subtle sound dampers if it’s near noisy areas like nightclubs or sport arenas among other examples!

Today Jersey Barriers stand tall firmly positioned along highways all over the world protecting lives without fail but no longer just used merely temporarily since they gained recognition after first use; they have since become part of many industrial landscapes who both landowners alike respect it’s uses which make people safer as well protect property values equally!

What materials are used to make jersey barriers?

Jersey barriers, or concrete traffic barriers, are an important tool used to help ensure the safety of drivers and pedestrians in both residential and commercial areas. Made from high-strength concrete, they can take a huge amount of punishment while still serving their purpose of protecting against vehicle accidents. While most jersey barriers are made from traditional poured concrete, some newer designs are being constructed using more diverse materials.

First off, the main material that’s used to make jersey barriers is dense reinforced concrete which is usually poured into pre-molded forms to create a solid structure with smooth straight sides. These barriers typically weigh around 2200 lbs for each barrier section and typically measure 6 ft long by 3 ft high by 32 inches thick when joined together as one unit.

In addition to traditional poured cement jersey barriers various re-barriers have been developed that utilize expanded metal fencing in place of the solid walls found on conventional Jersey Barriers. In this case the barrier consists of steel sheeting (usually galvanized) that’s filled with pitch or asphalt providing a durable but lightweight alternative to the standard design.

Finally some manufactures are also now using composite materials such as Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic (FRP) in their designs instead of steel or hardened concrete blocks since they offer stronger protection while being lighter and easier to transport as well as resistant to many forms of corrosion and wear over time which makes them perfect for outdoor use like parking lots or highways where frequent weathering must be considered when choosing your protection system design. This composite material offers a host additional benefits such as resistance against extreme temperature changes - freezing and hot having no effect on its structural integrity making it an ideal choice for long term use outdoors regardless if you need it for cars, citizens safety or even military operations.

Overall there’s no single definitive answer when it comes down too what materials should be used too create Jersey Barriers yet each type has its own set off benefits depending on individual circumstances so it’s best not too limit yourself too any one option right away but look into any other alternatives that could potentially provide better protection at lower cost like composites offering higher durability without compromising on performance capabilities either way whatever choice you make always keep safety first!

Tillie Fabbri

Tillie Fabbri

Writer at CGAA

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Tillie Fabbri is an accomplished article author who has been writing for the past 10 years. She has a passion for communication and finding stories in unexpected places. Tillie earned her degree in journalism from a top university, and since then, she has gone on to work for various media outlets such as newspapers, magazines, and online publications.

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