"Jersey barriers for sale near me" is four different products at four different price points. New 10-foot precast concrete: $800–$1,400 each delivered. Water-filled plastic: $350–$800 each. Empty plastic jersey-shape (cosmetic only): $300–$700. Steel barriers: $1,200–$2,000. Match the spec to the threat — putting a $400 plastic shape in front of 55 MPH traffic is the costliest mistake in this category. This guide walks the decision tree and the delivered-price math for Central NJ.
Step 1 — what is the barrier protecting against?
Before you compare prices, decide which of these matches your job. The wrong category bought at any price is a wasted purchase.
- Stopping a vehicle at speed (≥45 MPH). You need precast concrete or MASH-tested water-filled — nothing else has the mass + impact rating.
- Channelizing low-speed traffic (parking lot, ≤25 MPH). Empty plastic jersey-shape or water-filled barriers are sufficient if vehicle impact is unlikely.
- Marking off a perimeter without an impact concern (events, construction staging, no-parking zone). Plastic jersey-shape is fine and 4x cheaper than concrete.
- Anti-ram / vehicle-blocking at events. Stick with concrete or specialized event vehicle barriers — water-filled empty plastic is not anti-ram-rated.
- Long-term deployment (months to years). Concrete wins on durability per dollar. Plastic and water-filled UV-degrade after 3–5 outdoor years.
The four products compared
| Type | Weight per 10 ft | Crash rating | Price each | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Precast concrete | 4,000–5,000 lb | MASH TL-3 to TL-5 | $800–$1,400 | Highway, long-term, anti-ram |
| Water-filled plastic | 1,400–1,800 lb filled | MASH TL-2 / TL-3 (specific models) | $350–$800 | Mid-speed work zones, fast deploy |
| Empty plastic jersey-shape | 60–110 lb | Cosmetic only | $300–$700 | Parking lots, perimeters, events |
| Steel barriers | 600–900 lb | TL-2 / TL-3 | $1,200–$2,000 | Reusable mid-speed, low-storage-footprint |
New vs. used precast concrete
Used concrete jersey barriers are common in the secondary market, often pulled off finished DOT projects. Pricing typically runs $400–$700 per 10-foot section delivered for used vs. $800–$1,400 for new. The tradeoffs:
- Used is fine for cosmetic / channelizing / perimeter work on private property where impact rating doesn't matter.
- Used is risky for crashworthy applications. MASH crash certification applies to the original tested configuration. A used barrier with chips, exposed rebar, or unknown lineage may not perform as tested.
- Inspect before buying: corner spalling, exposed rebar (more than minor), broken pin pockets, hairline cracks longer than 12 inches, and the connection-pin geometry (some older units use J-pins, newer ones use straight pins — incompatible with each other).
The delivery economics — why "near me" matters so much
Concrete jersey barriers are heavy enough that delivery often costs more than the barrier itself. A flatbed truck with crane (the standard delivery rig) carries roughly 10–14 standard 10-foot concrete barriers per trip. Per-section delivery cost from a Central NJ supplier to a Central NJ jobsite typically runs $80–$150. Per-section delivery from an out-of-state supplier can run $200–$400. The math:
- Local NJ delivery (under 30 miles): $80–$150 per barrier section.
- NJ-to-NY / PA / DE: $150–$280 per section.
- Long-haul (>200 mi): $300–$500 per section.
- Crane / placement at site: $300–$600 flat fee for the crane day, regardless of barrier count (use the crane efficiently — order full truckloads).
For a 20-section installation: a local NJ supplier costs ~$1,200/section delivered ($800 barrier + $200 average delivery + $200 amortized crane). A long-haul supplier with a $600 cheaper barrier on paper costs $1,800/section delivered after freight. "Near me" is real money on this product.
Water-filled — when it's the right choice
Water-filled plastic barriers (Yodock, Triton, Armorzone, etc.) are the right product when:
- You need fast deployment and removal. Empty (60–110 lb) they ride on a pickup; concrete needs a flatbed and crane.
- The job is mid-speed (≤55 MPH) and the specific water-filled model is MASH-tested at the right Test Level.
- You don't want post-job freight. Drain to ~10% capacity, lift onto a pickup, gone.
- The weather window includes freezing — water expands ~9% at freeze, and partial-fill or anti-freeze additive is required for winter NJ deployment.
See our water-filled barriers buying guide for the full spec walk-through and the plastic vs. concrete jersey barrier comparison for the long-form decision matrix.
Empty plastic jersey-shape — when it's the right choice
Empty plastic jersey-shape barriers (HDPE or LLDPE injection-molded) are visually identical to a concrete jersey from 30 feet away but weigh 60–110 lb empty and stop literally nothing. They're the right product for:
- Parking-lot perimeter (visual deterrent, not impact rated).
- Construction staging fence (mark off the lay-down yard).
- Event boundary marking where vehicles aren't a threat.
- Movie/film production set dressing.
- Indoor warehouse aisle separation.
Buyers sometimes call these "fake jersey barriers" — and that's accurate. The product is honest about being cosmetic. Don't put one in front of a vehicle threat.
Buying jersey barriers in Central NJ
Traffic Control Supply delivers concrete jersey barriers (new and used), water-filled plastic, empty plastic jersey-shape, and steel barriers across Central NJ — Middlesex, Monmouth, Mercer, Somerset, Union, Hunterdon, and northern Ocean — typically same-day or next-day. Browse our barricades & barriers catalog, or use our AI assistant to match the right barrier type to your design speed, duration, and job-site geometry. For larger orders (20+ sections, multi-day delivery), request a quote with the job address, section count, and required date.