What are yellow, lightweight and enhance traffic management and public safety in downtown Wilmington?
Answer: The new traffic barriers the city is buying.
Wilmington will spend more than $1.6 million on 560 vehicle-mitigation barriers and seven transport trailers designed to protect pedestrians at downtown events.
The Wilmington City Council unanimously approved the purchase from Advanced Security Technologies on Sept. 22.
The hardened barriers will replace the wooden sawhorse barricades the city has been using and are designed to stop both accidental and intentional vehicle intrusions into pedestrian areas during special events.
Advantages of the new barriers
Deputy City Manager Thom Moton said City Manager Becky Hawke recognized the risk of continuing to use the wooden barricades
“and insisted that staff began immediately exploring avenues to fortify the protection of the public and individuals who are in the public sphere — right-of-ways, sidewalks, streets, and etcetera.”
Moton said the new barriers will offer several advantages over equipment used in the past.
“Many of you will recall that we had barriers for Downtown Alive,” Moton said. “They were 700 pounds and they were pretty significant to move. What we were looking for was something that was more nimble, that minimized the risk of employees being injured as they were mobilizing the barricades.
“These particular barricades weigh approximately 53 pounds and … they can be deployed in a way very rapidly.”
In addition, he said, the barriers cannot be moved by unauthorized people.
The trailers are designed to store the barricades, and Moton said one lane of traffic could be closed within 10 to 15 seconds.
“The main impetus and driver for this procurement is downtown, the Central Business District,” Moton said.
Purchase comes with savings
Although the barriers are primarily intended for downtown deployment, Moton said they also could be used for parades, road races and other events in other parts of the city.
A team of city staff members from various departments tested the barriers in the field, conducted roadway measurements and concluded that 560 barriers were needed, Moton said.
By purchasing the barriers and trailers through a procurement agreement, the city received a 6% discount from the manufacturer’s suggested retail price, Moton said.
Moton said the city would like to have the barriers in time for the Southeast North Carolina Veterans Parade on Nov. 7.
Mayor Bill Saffo said, “I appreciate the public safety component of this because this has been something that has been concerning for all of us.”
Bob Liepa is the city of Wilmington and public safety reporter for the StarNews. You can reach him at RLiepa@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Wilmington upgrades downtown pedestrian safety with barriers
