Our very own Reilly Connor – Principal Civil Engineer and Jacob Anderson – Senior Civil Engineer, recently received their NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi Safety Barrier Designers accreditation. We sat down to ask them a few questions about what the accreditation involved and what it means for our clients.
What prompted you to becoming a certified safety barrier designer?
The growing focus on road safety from central government, local councils, and developers highlighted a need for expertise in enhancing road safety and reducing risks for road users. Becoming a certified safety barrier designer provides opportunity to contribute meaningfully to safer infrastructure, protecting cyclists, pedestrians and vehicles.
What did the accreditation involve?
It was a comprehensive course, focusing on the practical skills and technical knowledge needed to design and certify road safety barrier installations across varied sites. It consisted of two key parts, with both theory and practical assessments:
What does this mean for our clients?
We already have expertise in civil infrastructure, providing a range of roading solutions from feasibility and design to contract observation and administration, all aimed at helping grow and connect communities. This certification further expands our capabilities, allowing us to support clients by designing, inspecting, and reviewing road safety barriers.
For our clients in central and local government, as well as developers, this certification means we can better identify hazards and help provide safer roads for vehicles, cyclists, pedestrians, and other vulnerable road users.
If you could give one piece of advice around the design and construction of safety barriers, what would it be?
Don’t treat barriers as an afterthought. They’re one of the most important safety features on any road. They are key in protecting our vulnerable road users and need to be properly integrated into the overall design giving due consideration to installation and ongoing maintenance.
