A Jersey barrier, sometimes called as Jersey wall, has many functions other than being used as re-routing material for road construction purposes.
It is used in natural disasters wherein there are roads that are damaged and re-routing is a must to warn the vehicles and eliminate the possibility of accidents. Also, it is commonly utilized when there are many pedestrians crossing a certain section of a road, while there are also vehicles passing through the area. Few people realize that these same Jersey Barriers are being put to use in Iraq for multiple purposes and also as anti-terrorism barricades.
The Purposes of Jersey Barriers for the US Army
The US Army has utilized the Jersey Barrier in many combat situations – the most recent being the war in Iraq. These barriers are selected for their ability to be quickly and easily transported as well as simplicity of maintenance and repair. In addition to this, they are semi-permanent so soldiers can readily remove these barriers whenever it is necessary or timely, such as in the case of peace agreements when there is little or perhaps no need of having such protective measures. Primarily, Jersey barriers are used by the US military in countries where terrorism is a threat, like Iraq and Afghanistan. They are strategically placed to blockade major roads if they perceive land borne threats.
The U.S. military utilizes Jersey barriers with varying heights, ranging from 3 to over 10ft. Surrounding base camps with barriers better protect soldiers from the threat of bombs and infantry attacks. They also use it to divide roads and surround parking lots for efficiency and protective purposes.
Jersey Barriers in Iraq
When the US military occupied Iraq, the “T” and “L” barriers emerged. These barriers are used in conjunction with the Jersey barriers while resting much higher. The bombings that were prominent in 2004 killed hundreds and wounded thousands of civilians and soldiers alike. The placement of taller Jersey barriers in many areas in Iraq assisted in decreasing the death rate in the country. Because they are strongly built, these concrete ramparts provide a great deal of protection for those seeking refuge behind them.
Types of Jersey Barriers Placed
There are many types of Jersey barriers which are used by the US ever since the occupation of Iraq. One of the most common versions is the concrete barrier. This barrier will hold in place even when hit by a standard sized military vehicle traveling at speed. Most concrete barriers, which have experienced head-on collisions against vehicles, can still be seen on the road with only minor damages. Because it is highly efficient, it is the preferred type of Jersey barrier for the US Army as part of their protective measures in the event of land borne attacks. However, the plastic version of the Jersey Barrier is beginning to see more use in the Iraq as it is also very protective and cheaper than its concrete brother.