New Orleans Eyewitness Reports Absence Of Steel Barricades On Bourbon

Emergency services attend the scene on Bourbon Street after a vehicle drove into a crowd on New Orleans' Canal and Bourbon Street, Wednesday Jan. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

A recent eyewitness account from Bourbon Street on New Year's Eve has raised concerns about the city's safety measures, specifically regarding the steel mechanical barricades that were not in place prior to a potential vehicle attack.

The eyewitness, Jimmy Cothran, a resident of New Orleans for 15 years, noted that the usual steel barricades were absent and instead, flimsy orange ones were in use. Cothran mentioned that these orange barricades were easily movable, which struck him as unusual given the significance of the event.

Flimsy orange barricades were in place instead of the usual steel ones.

Eyewitness Jimmy Cothran noted absence of usual steel barricades on Bourbon Street.

Orange barricades were easily movable, raising security concerns.

The steel barricades in question were initially installed in 2017 following a series of incidents, including the 2016 truck ramming attack in Nice, France, and multiple drunk driving crashes on Bourbon Street. These barricades are designed to be adjustable, allowing them to be set in either a flat or raised position to control vehicle access to the area.

The absence of the steel barricades on such a high-profile night has sparked discussions about the effectiveness of the city's security measures and the need for consistent vigilance in safeguarding public spaces. Authorities are likely to review the incident and assess any necessary improvements to prevent similar lapses in the future.