First HighwayGuard™ Florida Deployment Provides a Fast, Efficient Solution for Deep-Trench Work Zone

March 30, 20260

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First HighwayGuard™ Florida Deployment Provides a Fast, Efficient Solution for Deep-Trench Work Zone

Valtir | March 2026

ALAFAYA, FLORIDA — March 30, 2026 — HighwayGuard™ Delivers Near-Zero Deflection for High-Stakes Florida Utility Excavation.

Project at a Glance

    • Project: MOT on Private Utility Work
    • Location: SR 50 / Colonial Drive | Alafaya, FL
    • Contractor: Jack Harper Contractor | Arrive Alive Traffic Control
    • Duration: January 5 – January 11, 2026
    • Solution Deployed: 100’ of HighwayGuard™ (MDS Configuration) & QuadGuard® M10

The Challenge: High Stakes and Zero Margins

When general contractor WH Bass required short-term utility work on a force main located 15 feet below an active three-lane roadway in Alafaya, Florida, the stakes for work zone safety were exceptionally high.

The project required strict temporary traffic control limitations. The excavation zone was located immediately behind the barrier, meaning the chosen positive protection system needed to perform with virtually zero deflection. Furthermore, the solution had to be mobilized quickly, require no complex lifting equipment, and maintain an open 12-foot traffic lane.

Because of these extreme spatial constraints, traditional concrete barrier walls were simply not an option.

The Solution: HighwayGuard™ MDS

Subcontractor Jack Harper partnered with Arrive Alive Traffic Control to deploy 100 feet of the HighwayGuard™ barrier system in its Minimum Deflection System (MDS) configuration, paired with a Valtir QuadGuard® M10 crash cushion.

This marked the very first installation of HighwayGuard in the state of Florida, and it immediately proved its value by overcoming the site’s severe logistical hurdles:

  • Near-Zero Deflection: The MDS configuration provided an incredibly rigid barrier, with a deflection of just 0.98”—safely securing the 15-foot open trench directly behind the wall.
  • Maximized Roadway Space: HighwayGuard’s narrow 21.25” profile allowed the contractor to easily maintain a 12-foot lane through the work zone, keeping all three lanes of SR 50 open to traffic.
  • Rapid, Single-Truck Deployment: The entire 100’ HighwayGuard system and the QuadGuard cushion fit onto a single crane truck, drastically reducing trucking, labor, and equipment costs.
  • Lightning-Fast Installation: Utilizing 18” Roadloc Anchors, the crew fully installed the positive protection and the crash cushion in one hour.

The Result: Safety Without Disruption

The week-long project was completed safely and efficiently, with the HighwayGuard system providing critical protection for the crew working in one of the most demanding and tightly constrained roadway environments imaginable.

What the Customer Says

“By utilizing the HighwayGuard system in a Minimum Deflection configuration, Jack Harper Contractor provided a fast, efficient, and innovative solution where traditional concrete barrier walls were not an option. The system’s ease of installation minimized disruption, maximized safety, and exceeded project requirements. The result was a highly successful operation, satisfied stakeholders, and a fully protected crew working confidently in one of the most demanding roadway environments.”

– Adam Massimo, President, Jack Harper Contractor

Ready to solve your next high-stakes work zone challenge? Don’t let spatial constraints slow your project down. To learn more about the HighwayGuardTM, visit: https://www.valtir.com/product/highwayguard