Every day, thousands of vehicles share highways separated only by concrete barriers. These precast structures prevent head-on collisions, protect construction crews, and reduce noise for neighborhoods alongside busy roads. Choosing the wrong barrier provider can lead to delays, non-compliant products, and safety compromises for everyone involved. Highway safety infrastructure includes more than just the classic Jersey barrier. The market now offers sound walls, decorative median barriers, and even geogrid systems that stabilize barrier foundations on soft ground. This guide reviews four providers serving the highway safety sector across North America. Together, they bring over 170 years of combined experience. Their services span from coast-to-coast barrier logistics to NPCA-certified manufacturing, noise barrier systems, and foundation stabilization technologies. Each fills a distinct role in highway protection.
How We Selected the Best Concrete Barrier Providers for Highway Safety
We researched concrete barrier and highway infrastructure suppliers in early 2026. Our evaluation looked at product selection, certifications, service capabilities, and documented project histories in transportation settings.
Here’s what we examined:
- Product range and barrier types: We checked for Jersey barriers, F-shape barriers, K-rail, median separators, sound walls, highway walls, decorative options, and geosynthetic stabilization products used in highway safety projects.
- Certifications and compliance: We favored providers holding NPCA (National Precast Concrete Association) certification, CPCQA (Canadian Precast/Prestressed Concrete Quality Assurance) certification, or products meeting MASH/NCHRP 350 and DOT safety requirements.
- Service scope: We evaluated whether companies provide design, engineering, manufacturing, delivery, installation, and project support for highway barrier projects.
- Geographic coverage: We reviewed service territories ranging from regional specialists to nationwide and international operations.
- Industry track record: We considered years in business, project variety, awards received, and recognition within highway safety and infrastructure sectors.
Best Concrete Barrier Providers for Highway Safety
After reviewing operations, certifications, and service capabilities, these four providers stood out:
- 48 Barriers
- Key Concrete
- Tensar Corp
- Superior Concrete
Best Concrete Barrier Providers for Highway Safety: Detailed Profiles
48 Barriers
Key Data:
- Founded: 2003; family-owned and operated; division of Multi Distributing, LLC
- Headquarters: Springfield, Missouri; delivers coast-to-coast across all 48 contiguous U.S. states
- Products: New and used Jersey barriers, K-rail, military barriers, T-walls, bin blocks, security planters, mini barriers, recycled rubber barriers, and barrier lifts
- Proprietary Lines: CastleGuard™ decorative barriers, StoneCast™ planters, and DecoBarrier™ decorative blocks
- Services: Sales, rental, and brokerage; nationwide logistics with multi-supplier shipment coordination; financing available through KLC Financial partnership
Company Overview:
Since opening in 2003, this Springfield, Missouri operation has built a family-owned business around barrier supply and logistics services. The company sources barriers from its own inventory and a network of approved suppliers nationwide, then coordinates shipments from multiple locations to meet delivery deadlines across all 48 states. Their catalog covers Jersey barriers, K-rail, military barriers, T-walls, bin blocks, and their branded CastleGuard™ decorative barriers built for both security and appearance on highway projects. In 2023, the company moved over 25,000 concrete barriers to job sites nationwide.
Best For: Highway contractors needing fast, nationwide barrier sourcing and logistics with access to both new and used inventory
Standout Feature: Coast-to-coast brokerage network coordinating multi-supplier shipments with 25,000+ barriers sold in 2023
Key Concrete
Key Data:
- Founded: 1975 (as HEB Developers Ltd); operating for over 45 years; now known as Proform Concrete Services
- Headquarters: Red Deer County, Alberta, Canada; two CPCQA-certified manufacturing plants in Alberta; serves Western Canada and the Northwest Territories
- Certification: CPCQA (Canadian Precast/Prestressed Concrete Quality Assurance) certified facilities with full in-house engineering
- Barrier Products: Precast highway barriers, traffic calming curbs, slipform barriers (slipforming since 1984), noise barriers, light pole bases, and bridge products for transportation applications
- Services: Full-service design, engineering, manufacturing, delivery, and installation; two divisions (Proform Concrete Services for site work, slipform barriers, paving, and Proform Construction Products for precast manufacturing)
Company Overview:
Key Concrete runs under the Proform Concrete Services name today. This concrete contractor and precast manufacturer has operated in Western Canada and the Northwest Territories for over 45 years. The business started in 1975 as HEB Developers Ltd, then became Proform Concrete Services in the late 1980s. In 2018, Proform added Key Concrete Products Ltd to expand its precast offerings. The company mastered slipform barrier work starting in 1984 using a four-track side mount machine. Their two CPCQA-certified Alberta plants produce precast highway barriers, noise barriers, and bridge components for regional transportation projects.
Best For: Western Canadian highway contractors and municipalities needing CPCQA-certified precast barriers and slipform barrier services
Standout Feature: Over 40 years of barrier slipforming know-how (since 1984) with two CPCQA-certified manufacturing plants in Alberta
Tensar Corp
Key Data:
- Founded: 1978 (Tensar process invented); over 45 years of geosynthetics work; now a division of CMC (Commercial Metals Company)
- Headquarters: Alpharetta, Georgia, USA; manufacturing plants globally including Blackburn, UK; serves projects worldwide
- Products: InterAx® geogrids, TriAx® geogrids, uniaxial geogrids, and asphalt reinforcement meshes used to stabilize road foundations, reinforce retaining walls and slopes, and support highway barrier installations on weak subgrades
- Recognition: Named one of Britain’s 100 history-changing inventions (2013); Royal Academy of Engineering MacRobert Award (1984); geogrid called a civil engineering game-changer by the Institution of Civil Engineers
- Research Partners: US Army Corps of Engineers (ERDC), University of Nottingham, University of Minnesota, UK Transport Research Laboratory; over 500,000 projects completed worldwide
Company Overview:
Tensar Corp created the geogrid in the late 1970s. Since then, their products have supported over 500,000 projects around the globe, stabilizing road foundations, reinforcing retaining walls, and strengthening highway pavement structures. While Tensar doesn’t make concrete barriers themselves, their geogrid systems form a core part of highway safety setups. They stabilize the aggregate base below barrier installations, reduce settlement from heavy traffic loads, and allow barrier placement on soft or weak ground where standard foundations fail. Testing at the US Army Corps of Engineers’ ERDC facility showed their InterAx® geogrid can cut aggregate needs by up to 70% while extending pavement life and improving load distribution on highway work.
Best For: Highway engineers and DOT agencies needing geogrid-stabilized foundations for barrier installations on weak subgrades or soft ground
Standout Feature: Geogrid technology used on 500,000+ projects worldwide with up to 70% aggregate reduction, stabilizing highway foundations for barrier systems
Superior Concrete
Key Data:
- Founded: 1986; over 38 years in operation; headquartered in Texas; majority interest acquired by MAG Capital Partners in 2022
- Headquarters: Southlake, Texas (offices); manufacturing facility in Cleburne, Texas; serves projects nationwide across the United States
- Certification: NPCA (National Precast Concrete Association) certified factory; honored for 20+ consecutive years of NPCA plant certification (recognized at The Precast Show 2018)
- Products: Precast concrete screening walls, sound barriers, highway walls, retaining walls, perimeter fences, rail fences, and barrier systems; proprietary lines include SUPERIOR-COBBLESTONE™, SUPERIOR-LEDGESTONE™, SUPERIOR-BRICK™, SUPERIOR-WOOD™, and SUPERIOR-RAIL™; acquired AFTEC’s patented StoneTree® wall systems in March 2025
- Services: Vertically integrated, with design, engineering, manufacturing, and installation all handled in-house; serves commercial, industrial, utility, residential, municipal, and governmental customers
Company Overview:
Superior Concrete Products has built and installed decorative precast concrete wall and barrier systems from its Texas operations since 1986. The NPCA-certified company maintained continuous plant certification for more than 20 years, earning recognition at The Precast Show in 2018. Superior focuses on highway sound barriers, screening walls, and perimeter barrier systems with textured finishes mimicking stone, brick, stucco, and wood. In March 2025, they acquired AFTEC, LLC, gaining patented StoneTree® wall technology for high-security, sound-reducing, and decorative highway uses. Superior handles everything in-house: design, engineering, manufacturing, and installation.
Best For: DOT agencies and highway planners needing NPCA-certified sound barriers, highway walls, and decorative barrier systems with aesthetic finishes
Standout Feature: 20+ consecutive years of NPCA plant certification with patented StoneTree® wall technology (acquired 2025) for highway sound and security applications
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Concrete Barrier Provider for Highway Safety
DOT Compliance and Safety Standards
Check that all barrier products meet your state or provincial DOT rules plus applicable crash-testing standards like MASH or NCHRP 350. For permanent highway setups, NPCA or CPCQA-certified manufacturers add another layer of quality control confidence.
Barrier Type and Application Match
Highway safety covers many situations. You might need temporary median barriers in construction zones or permanent sound walls along residential areas. Match the barrier to the job: Jersey barriers separate traffic, F-shape barriers redirect vehicles, sound walls cut noise, and geogrid-stabilized foundations support barriers on weak ground.
Geographic Coverage and Lead Times
Barrier availability changes by region. Find out if the provider manufactures locally, ships from stock, or sources from third parties. Check lead times against your project schedule, especially during busy construction months.
Installation and Service Scope
Some providers offer complete packages (design, manufacturing, delivery, installation). Others just supply products. Know whether you need a full-service partner or only a barrier supplier. Confirm what equipment, labor, and logistics the quoted price includes.
Foundation and Subgrade Conditions
Barrier performance relies on what sits underneath. For soft soils, fill material, or weak subgrades, figure out if geosynthetic stabilization is needed to support the barrier system and stop settlement or movement over years of use.
Final Thoughts
Picking the right concrete barrier provider for highway safety means looking past the barrier itself. You need to evaluate DOT compliance, manufacturing certifications, installation abilities, and even ground conditions below the installation. Always confirm products meet applicable crash-testing standards and your state or provincial DOT specs before signing with a supplier. Request detailed quotes from several providers to compare pricing, lead times, and service details (especially whether installation, delivery, and lifting equipment are included). For large highway projects, choose providers with proven DOT contract experience and enough capacity to handle your project’s volume and timeline needs.
