A Jersey barrier, also known as a Jersey wall or Jersey bump, is a modular concrete or plastic barrier used to separate lanes of traffic and prevent vehicle crossovers. It was developed in the 1950s at Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey, United States, under the direction of the New Jersey State Highway Department to divide multiple lanes on a highway. A typical Jersey barrier stands 32 inches tall and is made of steel-reinforced poured concrete or plastic. The barrier is designed to minimize vehicle damage in cases of incidental contact while still preventing vehicle crossovers.
Jersey barriers are commonly seen along highway medians, at construction sites, in parking lots, and pretty much anywhere traffic is being directed. They are often made of concrete, especially for permanent installations, but are also seen as the more portable bright orange and white plastic versions that are filled with sand or water. Modern variations include the constant-slope barrier and the F-shape barrier, which is generally similar to the Jersey barrier in appearance but is taller, with somewhat different angles.
Jersey barriers are designed in such a way that if a vehicle careens into the concrete, its tires will ride up the sloped face of the barrier, forcing the vehicle to turn away from oncoming traffic and back in the direction it’s meant to go. They are also designed to mitigate the damage to the incoming car. Jersey barriers often have channels carved through the bottom to allow water to pass through and steel connectors protruding from either end to allow the barriers to be linked together.
