ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando police are considering adding heavy-duty concrete barriers at intersections Washington, Central and Church along Orange Avenue, to block any cars from getting through on the weekends. The barriers would prevent someone from trying to drive into a crowd or launch an attack, Channel 9’s Shannon Butler learned.
The barriers would block off intersections more effectively than the Orlando Police Department cars that currently sit along Orange Avenue on the weekend.
The cars are used to block the traffic and allow pedestrians to get to the bars along Orange Avenue and Wall Street.
City officials told Eyewitness News they began considering the barriers following the terror attack in Nice, France, in which a truck driver barreled into a crowd.
That's one of the reasons Orlando police and the Orlando Downtown Development Board are looking at ways to keep crowds of people safe in the downtown corridor.
Another idea up for consideration is to install metal poles, like the ones in front of the Amway Center, at some of the cross streets along Orange Avenue.
“It's just something we are looking at. I mean, we have seen around the country and around the world that many different jurisdictions and businesses use those in an effort to prevent serious attacks,” said Orlando police Chief John Mina.
Some within the Orlando Fire Department, however, said they’re not sure the barriers are the best for their operations.
Sources told Eyewitness News that firefighters at Station One, which is just a half-block from Orange Avenue, is already having issues when they are called to Orange Avenue on Friday and Saturday nights.
The concrete barriers, they say, could make it even harder for people to get help.
Police said they would make sure firefighters can get through.
“We haven't made up our minds yet. We are still looking at it. Staff is still researching all of it,” Mina said.
Cox Media Group
