A "barricade for traffic" can mean anything from a $40 plastic A-frame at a school crossing to a $1,200 concrete Jersey wall on a highway shoulder. The right choice depends on three things: what speed traffic is moving, how long the closure lasts, and whether you need delineation or physical protection. Below are the twelve questions contractors and facility managers ask before placing the order — answered in the order they tend to come up.
1. What is the difference between a "barricade" and a "barrier"?
In MUTCD terms, a barricade is a sign-like channelizing device (Type I, II, or III) that warns drivers and guides them around a hazard. A barrier is a physical wall designed to stop or redirect a vehicle (Jersey barriers, water-filled barriers, crash cushions). Barricades communicate; barriers protect. Most state inspectors will fail a job that uses one when the other was required.
2. What kind of barricade do I need for a road closure?
It depends on closure duration and posted speed:
| Situation | Recommended barricade |
|---|---|
| Short-duration utility job, ≤35 mph | Type I or II plastic barricades + cones |
| Long-term road closure, ≤45 mph | Type III plastic barricades, ROAD CLOSED legend |
| Highway closure, >45 mph | Type III + water-filled or concrete barriers |
| Pedestrian path / sidewalk | A-frame or pedestrian barricades |
| Parking lot or event | Steel crowd-control / bike-rack barriers |
3. How many barricades do I need?
For a Type III road-closed installation on a 2-lane road, plan on 2 barricades minimum (one each direction), plus advance warning signs at MUTCD-spec distances and 8–15 cones in the taper. For a sidewalk closure, 2–3 A-frames will usually suffice unless the closure runs more than 100 feet. Our SiteMapPlanner will generate the exact count if you tell it the road geometry.
4. Should I buy plastic or steel?
Plastic (high-density polyethylene) is lighter, cheaper, will not rust, and is what nearly all MUTCD Type I/II/III barricades are made of today. Steel is for crowd-control / bike-rack barriers used at events and pedestrian queuing — heavier, more durable, and harder to move (good or bad depending on whether you want unauthorized people moving them).
- Road work / traffic channelization → plastic. Lightweight, MUTCD-compliant, cheaper.
- Crowd control / events → steel. Heavier, locks together, harder to displace.
- Long-term / heavy crash protection → concrete or water-filled. Real barrier protection.
See our plastic barricades pillar guide and metal barricades buying guide for a deeper material comparison.
5. What does a Type I, II, or III barricade actually look like?
The MUTCD defines three barricade types based on rail count and visibility distance:
- Type I: one horizontal rail with diagonal orange/white stripes. ~24" tall. For low-speed, short-duration work.
- Type II: two horizontal rails, same striping. Better visibility for longer roads.
- Type III: three horizontal rails, much wider (~8 ft). Used for full road closures with ROAD CLOSED, DETOUR, or similar legend boards.
For the practical differences, see Type III barricade vs. Type I and II.
6. How much does a traffic barricade cost in 2026?
Per-unit pricing for new contractor-grade barricades, Central NJ market:
| Type | 1–9 units | 10+ units |
|---|---|---|
| A-frame plastic barricade | $55–75 | $45–60 |
| Type I plastic barricade | $70–95 | $60–80 |
| Type II plastic barricade | $95–135 | $80–115 |
| Type III plastic barricade | $180–250 | $150–210 |
| Steel crowd-control barrier (8 ft) | $110–145 | $90–125 |
| Water-filled traffic barrier | $220–330 | $180–280 |
| Used concrete Jersey barrier (10 ft) | $300–450 | $250–400 |
7. Do barricades need reflective sheeting?
Yes — on any roadway barricade. The MUTCD requires the diagonal stripes to be retroreflective sheeting (ASTM Type IV or higher) so the barricade is visible to oncoming drivers at night. Check that the stripes are heat-bonded or factory-applied, not stick-on tape. Stick-on tape peels within a season.
8. Do I need to weight the barricades?
A-frame and Type I plastic barricades have hollow bases and need to be weighted to stay in place when wind or passing vehicles hit them. Standard weighting:
- Sand-fill (most common) — fill the hollow base on site.
- Sandbag drape over the bottom rail.
- Steel feet (sold separately, $20–35 per pair).
Type III barricades typically have wide-footprint bases and rarely need additional weight, except in very-high-wind locations like bridge decks.
9. Can I buy traffic barricades for a single job instead of a long-term supply?
Yes — we sell with same-day Central NJ delivery for jobs of any length. For short one-off events, request a quote and we can recommend the smallest spec that meets your job requirements.
10. What barricade do I need for a pedestrian closure?
For sidewalk or pedestrian path closures, use A-frame barricades or dedicated pedestrian barriers rather than Type I/II road barricades. Reasons: pedestrian barriers are at a height that wheelchairs and walkers can see and bump into safely, and they typically include a continuous mesh or panel that prevents anyone (especially kids) from stepping under the rail into the work zone.
11. Where can I buy a barricade for traffic in NJ today?
For Central NJ contractors, we deliver same-day on all standard barricade types when the order comes in before noon. Submit a quote request or email harold@trafficcontrolsupply.com with your job site address and we can recommend the right model. See our full barricade catalog for all in-stock options.
12. What is the biggest mistake people make with traffic barricades?
Three are tied for first place: (a) buying Type I barricades when the job requires Type III, (b) leaving the barricades unweighted so the first wind blast knocks them over, and (c) using channelizing barricades on a job that actually requires a physical barrier (water-filled or concrete). All three result in inspection failures and, in the worst case, vehicle intrusions into the work zone. If you are not sure which type fits your job, ask our Assistant or call before ordering.