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Despite the name, jersey barriers were first used in California in the mid 40’s to replace the standard wooden beams and help prevent head-on collisions on steep mountain roads. Then in the late 40’s, New Jersey installed their first concrete barriers during an addition to making a four lane highway and decided to experiment with different shapes and sizes of the barriers. During the next 15 years, New Jersey highway officials would end up developing the design that caused the nationwide adoption of the feature. There is much more to this design then what meets the eye. For instance, the purpose of the wedge design is to minimize the severity of accidents by restoring the control of a vehicle on impact.
This design also happens to make for a rad feature for snowboarding and skateboarding. While skateboarders tend to pour concrete and ride them like quarter pipes, snowboarders will use them as ledges or something to jam in or out of. The metal adidas Barrier in the High Cascade park makes jamming and sliding that much easier. Throughout the summer, these barriers were creatively placed around the park and heavily sessioned. While you won’t see these barriers on a side of a highway preventing major accident, you WILL see them in the park, hopefully helping more with tricks then accidents.
