Hill & Smith Infrastructure has unveiled it's latest breakthrough, the Incursion Defender, providing industry with a major advance in on-site worker protection: a portable, modular barrier designed to bring vehicles to a controlled stop to prevent them from entering roadworks.
England's roads have seen 23,981 incursions since 2017, with 2,833 of those taking place in 2025, according to National Highways' IPV & Incursion Working Group Report – December 2025.
In a press statement, Hill & Smith Infrastructure said the Incursion Defender was the only incursion protection barrier 'tested as a highway device'. Its modular design allows units to be configured to match the specific road or lane width of a range of work sites or schemes.
And it is currently undergoing a live trial within a Costain and Transport for London project, which Hill & Smith Infrastructure hopes will provide ‘real‑world insight' into its performance.
It also utilises bolt and tool-free assembly, which allows the barrier to be deployed ‘quickly and efficiently' from a van, minimising workers' exposure to live traffic. The design also allows for the inclusion of optional wheels, which enhance mobility and can provide temporary or emergency access.
The barrier is also engineered to the UK VRS CD 378 and MASH 2016 and crash tested to Highway Standards, achieving Impact Severity Level (ISL) A.
Dave Todd, managing director at Hill & Smith Infrastructure, said: ‘The launch of Incursion Defender represents a significant point for road safety and a key milestone for Hill & Smith Infrastructure.
'As vehicle incursions into roadworks remain a critical challenge, we are proud to introduce a solution designed to physically eliminate vehicle incursions. This launch reflects our commitment to innovation and working together to protect & maintain access into roadworks whilst keeping road users safe.'
