Leesburg staff outlines permanent vs. portable barricade options; council keeps rented units for now

Leesburg public works staff presented options for permanent downtown barricades at the Town Council work session on May 12, outlining industry crash-rating standards, equipment costs and likely construction impacts, and noting the town already purchased portable meridian barricades for events.

Chris Core, Deputy Director of Public Works, told the council the town bought three trailers containing 26 portable meridian barricades, six gates and accessories for just under $400,000 and expects delivery in June. "They're very simple and quick to deploy," Core said, and the units can be used for both small events and larger events such as Taste or Flower and Garden.

Core reviewed ASTM crash-rating nomenclature the industry now uses, including vehicle weight classes (M ratings) and speed/penetration indicators (P ratings). He said the town's portable meridian barricades can meet C30 P2 and, depending on layout, M30 P3 levels. Core added the purchased meridians are also claimed to be ballistic rated for limited cover by first responders.

The presentation contrasted portable systems with several permanent options suitable for right-of-way installation: wedge barriers, retractable bollards and shallow removable bollards. Core said unit pricing varies widely — a single wedge closing one lane costs about $60,000 while bollards range from roughly $15,000 up to $60,000 per device — and utility relocation and site work would increase total project cost. "Fifty feet of water line relocation can cost around $30,000 from a recent project we did," he said.

Core said removable shallow bollards (12-inch install depth) are a mid-point option because they avoid many underground utility conflicts; retractable units typically require 6–8 foot trenches, a large control cabinet footprint (roughly 5 by 5 by 3 feet) and higher maintenance costs. He said an equipment-only installation could take 90–120 days and relocation of utilities could extend construction to more than six months.

Council members pressed staff on liability, lifespan and local use. Core said some jurisdictions moved away from permanent installs because of long-term maintenance costs and potential liability when a high‑force impact damages a fixed system. He also said Loudoun County agencies and some nearby jurisdictions are purchasing the same portable meridian barricades the town bought.

After discussion about cost, construction disruption to businesses and utility conflicts in the downtown right-of-way, Mayor and council members indicated they did not want to pursue permanent installations at this time. The mayor summarized the council's direction: although staff will keep the information on permanent devices, the town will proceed with the purchased portable meridian barricades for events.

Next steps noted by staff: the portable units arrive in June; staff will continue to coordinate deployment for events and will return with further information if council wants to reconsider permanent devices.