Steel Bollards Added to Memphis' Beale Street

Four sets of steel bollards have been installed on Memphis' iconic Beale Street as part of a safety improvement plan.

• By Sydny Shepard
• Apr 25, 2019

Four sets of steel bollards have been installed on Memphis' iconic Beale Street as part of a safety improvement plan. The safety enhancements come months after Memphis City Council members adopted a security consultant's report on how to keep the street safe. 

The devices block vehicle traffic and can prevent a car ramming attack. The city became interested in protecting against car ramming attacks after similar incidents in New Orleans.

The first set out of four bollards went up their week at Beale and Second. Another set is under construction and the following two will be put up along the popular street in the coming days.

The devices cost about $585,012. The initial amount approved by Memphis city council was roughly $788,800. The Downtown Memphis Commission said the cost was reduced because of configuration changes. The DMC also indicated that they still planned to add safety devices to other streets in the area.

The bollards are permanent, but the middle steel bars do move out of the way to allow for street cleaning and deliveries. They will be up from 5 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. each Monday through Friday and 24 hours a day on Saturday and Sunday.

The bollards were included in a security consultant's report on Beale Street security, launched after a number of high profile incidents on the street including stampedes.