The Complete Guide To Types Of Traffic Barricades That You Need To Know

Intro: The Different Types of Barricades For Projects

Construction sites are a dangerous area, and this danger increases whenever a construction project takes place near an active roadway with traffic nearby. As construction projects increase and more drivers hit the road, the use of traffic barricades is more critical than ever before to maximize the safety of construction workers, pedestrians, and drivers. There are many different types of barricades to choose from, with every kind of traffic barricade helping to prevent or limit accidents in their own way. The main types of traffic barricades are grouped into the most common types of traffic barriers, including:

1. Pedestrian Barricades: These barricades are used to control the flow of people. While these traffic barriers are used at concerts and other large events, they are also used in areas where oncoming traffic is near large crowds of people.
2. Traffic Barriers: These traffic barricades are used to route, stop, or redirect the flow of traffic around dangerous environments. Traffic barriers are often used on-site to alert pedestrians and lower vehicle traffic of nearby dangers.
3. Road Construction Barricades: Road construction barriers are used to redirect and stop high-speed traffic. These types of traffic barricades are used on busy roads and highways to signal closed roadways.

The different types of barricades are used to ensure the right traffic control device is used in the right situations. Roadside projects or construction projects with pedestrians nearby require the correct type of traffic equipment to prevent and limit accidents on highways, roads, and even sidewalks. Let’s take a look at different types of traffic barriers that are often used on construction projects to ensure you use the right equipment for the correct situations!

1. Pedestrian Barricades

Pedestrian barricades are used by schools, parking garages, and outdoor events to control the flow of pedestrian traffic in a given area. These multi-purpose pedestrian barriers are designed for both inside and outside use, and each control barricade comes with interlocking connection points to create a continuous link. Pedestrian barriers come in highly visible colors so they can be seen at night and in different weather conditions. You can attach barricade flashers to your pedestrian barricades to improve visibility and safety in the immediate area. In addition to the traditional type of pedestrian barricades, you may also need other signage like:

• Crosswalk Barricade Signs
• Parking Lot Vertical Signs
• Premier Vertical Panel Barricades

This type of control device should only be used in situations to prevent pedestrians from accessing dangerous areas, and they should not be used on active roadways or to direct oncoming traffic. Be sure to only use pedestrian barriers in situations where you need to control the flow of foot traffic, as they are not made to redirect vehicular traffic.

Plastic Pedestrian Barriers

Most pedestrian barriers are made out of lightweight and durable polyurethane plastic materials. Plastic pedestrian barricades are the crowd control device of choice because they are UV resistant, easy to move, and come in a modular design. These barriers are easy to deploy, and they have twisting feed at the bottom of each device so they can be set up and stored easily. Plastic barriers are a big time saver, so if you have limited staff or short on time, then these are an excellent choice for any situation where you need to control the flow of pedestrian traffic.

Work Zone Manhole Safety Fence

Similar to other plastic pedestrian barriers, the Work Zone Manhole Safety Fence is ideal to wall off a manhole or other small area where work is taking place. The work safety gate kit is constructed from lightweight plastic that is lightweight for easy movement. The bright colored barriers collapse at the hinge points so you can position the safety barrier wherever needed quickly and easily.

Cone Bars

Cone bars are a simple and lightweight solution for parking lots, crowd control, and emergency situations. These control devices are a great choice to create a highly visible barrier between pedestrians and potential hazards in public places and job sites. Each cone bar uses a retractable design to extend to 10 feet long. This means that you can space out the needs of your control devices and create a continuous line of warning signals as needed. Unlike other traffic control devices, cone bars require the use of traffic cones to stand the cone bars up and stabilize the structure. Cone bars should not be used in areas with high-speed vehicles, and should only be used in areas where pedestrians need to be notified of hazardous conditions. Since these cone bars sit on traffic cones, they do not offer additional stability and can be removed easily.

2. Traffic Control Devices

Traffic control devices of the most common type of barricade seen on construction sites and similar areas. These types of road barricades are used to control the flow of pedestrian traffic and vehicular traffic in specific regions near construction zones, school zones, and accident sites. Traffic control barriers are often used on busy roadways and where vehicles are traveling near pedestrians at a moderate to high speed. The most popular types of traffic barricades include:

• Traffic Cones
• Jersey Barriers
• Traffic Barrels
• Delineators
• A-Frame Barriers

The reason that traffic barriers are the most common and popular choices on construction sites and other situations are because this type of control device can be modified as needed with attachable cone signs and cone lights to improve visibility and direct traffic. Not only are traffic barriers more functional than other devices, but they are also accessible to transport and store. Traffic barricades are best used in areas with slow vehicular traffic, and where pedestrians need to be warned of oncoming traffic. Let’s take a look at the most common traffic barricades that you can use and where you should use this type of traffic barrier.

Traffic Cones

Traffic cones (also called construction cones and road cones) are a common sight on highways, active roadways, and construction sites because these devices are easy to deploy, simple to store, and adequate warning markers for pedestrians and drivers alike. Road cones are lightweight, stackable, and durable because they are made out of polyethylene plastic so they can withstand harsh weather conditions and direct sunlight for long periods of time. Traffic cones come in different shapes and sizes, and you should choose the type of traffic cone best suited for the specific situation, like:

• Red Cones: Indicates immediate danger and change death.
• Orange Cones: Indicates potential danger and serious injury.
• Yellow Cones: Indicates potential danger, but reduced chances of injury.
• Green Cones: Indicates first-aid stations. Commonly used at athletic events.
• Blue Cones: Indicates non-hazardous risks, and used to make handicapped-only parking spaces.
• White Traffic Cones: Indicates a safe area, and denotes entrances to restrooms, doorways, etc.

Since road cones can fall over with a large gust of wind, you may need to add cone weights to the bottom of a road cone to ensure it remains standing upright near oncoming traffic or during inclement weather.

Water Filled Jersey Barriers

Jersey Water Barriers are a sturdy traffic blockade used to close off roadways and provide added protection between construction sites, pedestrians, and vehicular traffic. Water Jersey Barricades are made from lightweight and durable plastic materials, so deployment only requires one person to set up and dismantle the equipment. Unlike their concrete counterparts, Water-filled Jersey Barriers are easy to transport and store. Instead of requiring heavy moving equipment and a team of workers, these barriers are ideal for short-term projects. There are other types of water-filled barriers that you can use to help in specific situations. The most common water-filled barriers include:

• Construction Barriers
• Yodock 2001MB Channelizers
• Water Walls

Traffic Barrels

Reflective traffic barrels are similar to traffic cones, but these channelizer drums have a broader base and feature more reflective surfaces for improved stability and visibility. Each traffic control barrel comes with handles for easy carrying, dragging, and lifting. You can enhance the strength of these traffic barrels by adding additional rubber weighted bases or sandbags to the base of the barrels if you are placing them near high-speed traffic or in areas that receive gusts of wind. Traffic drums are an excellent choice for any project because they are lightweight and stackable. This means that you can transport and store the traffic drums with ease, and you won’t need a large team of workers to deploy the devices in the field. Best of all, the highly visible traffic drums are durable, so you can use them for several years at a time without the need to replace them with normal use.

Delineators

Delineator Tubes and Delineator Posts come in a variety of colors and are used to alert pedestrians, drivers, and construction workers about dangerous environments. Delineators are commonly used in parking garages, parking lots, gas stations, and construction zones because they are visible at night and inclement weather. Delineators are made from lightweight materials, and they are resistant to UV light and can withstand everyday use for years at a time. These types of channelizing devices should be used in areas where vehicles drive below 50 MPH, so they should not be used on highways or other high-speed roadways.

A-Frame Barriers

A-Frame Barricades are shaped like sawhorses used on workbenches. These traffic barriers use highly visible orange and white reflective patterns to warn pedestrian and vehicular traffic of dangerous environments. A-Frame Barricades are used for many applications on a construction site, school zone, and even for crowd control. The horizontal beam with reflective materials means that they are easier to see than traffic cones or other control devices. At the same time, since A-Frame barriers have a wide footprint, they are also sturdier than delineators or traffic barrels. Adding lights and mounting signs to your A-Frame Barrier is a great way to maximize the safety and functionality of the A-Frame Barrier. Look for durable plastic A-Frame Barricades if you need to block off roadways, sidewalks, or notify pedestrians about a dangerous area.

3. Road Construction Barricades

Highway and city road construction work is quickly becoming a common sight on our roadways. As more roadway projects start each year, construction projects need to use a specific type of barricade to ensure the safety of workers and pedestrians while reducing the chances of accidents. Road Barriers are used to control the flow of pedestrians and vehicles, and while there are many different types of portable traffic barricades, there are three types of barricades called:

• Type I Barricades
• Type II Barricades
• Type III Barricades

These types of barricades are used for road detours and when closing a road to vehicles. Unlike other types of traffic barriers, road barriers are designed to be highly visible to oncoming traffic and tested for crashworthiness. Every kind of barricade is designated by the size and shape of the traffic control device, and each one has specific parameters for when and where it can be used. There are many types of barricades to choose from, and it’s essential that you select the correct barricade for your specific needs. Let’s take a look at the three main types of road barricades and when you should use each one!

Type 1 Barricade

The Type I barricade has a single reflective panel, and this type of barricade is typically 24 inches wide with orange and white stripes. This type of barricade is also called the “waffle board barrier” because it looks like a sawhorse and a board stretching across the legs. Many project managers like the Type I barrier because it collapses easily and does not require additional tools to deploy in the field. Not only is the collapsible design great for storage and transportation, but this type of barricade is also designed this way to collapse when struck by a vehicle.

Type 2 Barricade

Type II barricades look similar to Type I barricades since they both have A-Frame legs and a panel that stretches across the frame. However, the Type II barricade has two reflective rails instead of the single panel found on a Type I barricade. Since a Type II barricade has two reflective panels, this type of barrier is often used in high traffic areas and where vehicles travel at faster speeds. Due to the increased size and weight, this type of barricade can be used on expressways and high-speed roads.

Type 3 Barricade

Type III barricades are the largest type of road barricade on the market. This type of barricade is engineered with at least three reflective panels. Unlike the other types of barricades, this type of road barricade is constructed from several standalone uprights with the reflective rails attached after installation. Due to their size and shape, the Type III barricades are larger and more prominent than Type I or Type II barricades and should be used to indicate closed roads and dead ends. Since this type of barricade is larger than the other types of barriers, you should deploy this type of barricade in high-speed and high traffic areas.