Columbia groups consider new safety barriers for live events

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Groups across Columbia gathered Downtown on Tuesday to learn about new safety barriers.

Representatives from the Columbia Fire Department, The District and The Blue Note were some of the groups that showed interest in the blockades.

Meridian barriers listed walking access, ease of mobility and reuse after impact as its top-three reasons why groups should use them. The mobile barriers and gates are used in other college towns like College Station, Texas, and professional sports teams like the Chicago Cubs use the barriers.

Local groups and the city will take a look into the cost analysis.

According to Meridian, it takes about four of its barriers to close down a single lane of the road. For four barriers to close down a one lane of road for a three-day event, organizers are looking at around $2,900. Organizers could also fully purchase all four barriers for $27,000.

Meridian also has a gate model. One gate for a three day event would cost $5,900, or $48,000 to full buy.

Nickie Davis, executive director of The District, claimed that it's on the cheaper side compared to other options it has looked at.

"I think this is another way to add something that's a little bit safer, a little bit easier to maneuver around if we ever needed to get an emergency vehicle in," said Mark Nolan, who is a senior marketing director at The Blue Note.

Meridian also preformed a demonstration for the University of Missouri Tuesday morning. ABC 17 reached out to officials to see if the university will be adopting these blockades for their future event safety procedures. They have not yet responded as of Tuesday evening.