Скачать или смотреть Big changes coming to Broadway: Raptor bollards could keep crowds safer

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — Broadway could soon look a little different. The Nashville Department of Transportation (NDOT) is moving forward with a pilot program to install Raptor bollards along 5th Avenue and Broadway in an effort to improve safety in the city’s busiest entertainment district.

The high-tech barriers pop up from the ground when needed to block vehicle access and can help prevent tragedies like the New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans, where a driver plowed into a crowd, killing 14 people and injuring dozens.

NDOT Director Diana Alarcon says the bollards are designed to stop someone with bad intentions from driving into crowds. While officials have discussed safety upgrades on Broadway for years, the New Orleans attack increased the focus and urgency to get these installed sooner rather than later.

Mayor Freddie O’Connell says the city has been working with state Homeland Security to assess threats and enhance safety downtown.

"We were already exploring bollards before, but the New Orleans attack increased focus on that," said O'Connell, "All these steps are trying to make sure the entertainment district is safe not just on busy weekends but year-round.

The project currently has $2.6 million allocated, but more funding may be needed. The pilot program is expected to last one year, with NDOT planning to close 5th and Broadway for about three weeks in November for installation. Officials say they’ll reopen the street on weekends to minimize the impact on businesses.

NDOT officials were originally discussing retractable bollards, but raptor bollards require less digging, which causes less impact to utilities.

If successful, the program could expand to First Avenue and other parts of Broadway, with full completion expected by 2026.

This year, Broadway also added a new police substation and traffic management unit to enhance safety.

Read the story here: https://fox17.com/news/local/big-chan...
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