New Orleans officials revealed that the security barriers along Bourbon Street, designed to protect pedestrians, were being replaced before a tragic incident on New Year’s Eve. A man drove a truck into a crowd of revelers, killing 15 people.
Mayor LaToya Cantrell explained in a press conference that the older barriers, known as bollards, were being upgraded as part of preparations for Super Bowl LIX, scheduled for February 9. The game will be held about a mile from the site of the attack. Funding for the replacement project was part of the city’s Super Bowl infrastructure plan.
“The bollards weren’t operational because we’re near the final stages of their replacement, which we expect to complete well before the Super Bowl,” Cantrell said.
The original bollards were installed in 2017 as part of a $40 million security initiative aimed at restricting vehicle access and protecting pedestrians in the French Quarter. The system used sets of four bollards at intersections, with two of them retractable to allow emergency or authorized vehicles through. However, the system faced issues shortly after its installation.
Cantrell explained that the bollards malfunctioned due to Mardi Gras beads clogging the system. “The New Orleans Police Department found them inefficient because they didn’t work as intended,” she said. “Hosting the Super Bowl gave the city an opportunity to improve and modernize infrastructure.”
The bollards were initially installed in response to rising concerns over vehicle-based attacks in crowded pedestrian areas around the world. A 2017 city-commissioned report highlighted the French Quarter as a high-risk area due to its dense crowds, identifying it as a potential target for mass casualty events or terrorist attacks.
This tragic incident underscores the importance of enhanced security measures in areas like the French Quarter, which attract large gatherings of locals and tourists alike. The city continues its efforts to ensure public safety as it prepares to host one of the year’s biggest sporting events.
