Safe Direction proudly introduces the CrocGuard® Bridge Barrier. This innovative product can extend across bridges up to 16 metres with no need for posts on the bridge structure. Engineers designed CrocGuard® specifically for use on weak timber deck bridges, shallow fill culverts, and other sites where underground infrastructure complicates traditional post installations.
Hayden Wallace, Managing Director at Safe Direction, points out a significant breakthrough for timber deck bridge applications. Until now, they faced the tough choice of replacing non-compliant barriers or entirely rebuilding bridges. CrocGuard® offers a compliant solution under Australian Standard (AS5100) for Regular Level Bridges, where alternatives were previously unavailable. Most importantly, CrocGuard® enhances safety and prolongs the lifespan of vital public infrastructure.
Narrow old bridges often contribute to risky centre-line crowding and increased chances of head-on collisions. CrocGuard® addresses this by optimising lane width. The barrier’s alignment shifts to the bridge’s edge, offering more lane space to motorists. Recent studies reinforce this approach, indicating that wider lanes on rural roads can significantly reduce the risk of head-on collisions. Transforming traditional roads into “2+1” configurations, where lanes are clearly separated, has proven to decrease accident rates. For more detailed information, view the study here.
Moreover, CrocGuard® eliminates any hydraulic load on bridges during flood overtopping events. “This feature provides major benefits for low-set bridges, ensuring long-term durability and giving asset owners peace of mind,” states Wallace.
