David Shepardson
(Reuters) – The city of New Orleans began replacing security barriers along Bourbon Street before Wednesday’s truck attack that killed at least 10 people and injured more than 30.
In response to vehicle attacks on pedestrian malls around the world, New Orleans has been in the process of removing and replacing barriers known as bollards that limit vehicle traffic in the Bourbon Street pedestrian zone. The barriers were first installed in 2017 ahead of the NBA All Star Game as part of a $40 million security plan.
NOLA.com reported Wednesday that the old barrier at the crosswalk of Canal and Bourbon streets was removed several weeks ago and that replacement equipment has been installed. The newspaper quoted Bob Simms, who oversees safety initiatives for the French Quarter Management District, as saying the older barriers were “very ineffective.”
A 2017 report commissioned by the city said the French Quarter “is often heavily pedestrianized and presents an area where a mass crash could occur.”
The report states that “the area also represents a high risk and target area for terrorism that the FBI has identified as a concern that the City must address.”
New Orleans, which was the first to install the bollards after other vehicle attacks around the world, said it is now installing removable stainless steel bollards that can be securely locked behind each crosswalk.
According to the city’s website, the project should be completed by the end of January, in time for the Feb. 9 NFL Super Bowl, which is being played about a mile away at New Orleans’ Superdome.
New Orleans Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick said the driver in the New Year’s Day attack may have driven around the barricades. “Because of the deliberate mindset of this perpetrator — who went around the barricades to carry this out — he was fiercely determined to create the carnage and damage that he did,” she said.
