The NJ Police Chief Magazine Volume 26, Number 3 | Page 14

The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine | November 2019
Bollards, Blocks and Gates—Atlantic City Police Department
The Atlantic City Police Department completed a target hardening project on the entire
length of the world famous Atlantic City Boardwalk during the summer of 2019. The
purpose of this initiative known as Project T.H.O.R. (Target Hardening Our Resort) was to
reduce the ease of unauthorized motor vehicles accessing the boardwalk, thereby
decreasing the boardwalks vulnerability to intentional vehicle ramming attacks, as well as
access by intoxicated and or lost motorist.
The boardwalk originally built in 1870, is the first boardwalk in the world. This iconic
wooden structure stretches over four miles long with 79 street end ramps wide enough for
vehicular access. The Boardwalk sees approximately 26 million visitors a year and is home
to
numerous
parades
and
events
such
as
the
Hard
Rock
Casino’s Celebrate America Parade, St. Patrick’s Day Parade, The Atlantic City Triathlon,
The Atlantic City Marathon, Ironman 70.3, beach concerts and the Thunder over the
Boardwalk Annual Airshow.
Prior to this project the ACPD would expend a considerable amount of time and resources
temporarily target hardening the boardwalk during special events to mitigate this threat. In light
of recent terrorist events the ACPD had become increasingly concerned that more needed to be
done to permanently target harden this historical asset. To mitigate this threat members of the
ACPD met with the NYPD Threat Reduction and Infrastructure Protection Section (TRIPS)
regarding boardwalk vulnerabilities and suggestions for correcting them. A plan was devised to
utilize a combination of Bollards, Blocks and Gates to block all 79 street end ramps from
vehicular traffic.
Eight retractable bollards and 20 permanent bollards were purchased from Garden
State Highway Products. These bollards were installed at various ramps by the city’s
Boardwalk Department. The retractable bollards can be lowered when needed to
allow vehicles entry, however it is not a rapid process for emergency access. The
ACPD also purchased 80 portable barrier concrete blocks weighing 5,400 lbs. each.
The blocks were procured from Garden State Highway Products and made locally by
Northeast precast in Millville NJ. The blocks were equipped with reflective signs
mounted on both ends. The blocks can be hoisted or lifted by a forklift if they need to
be moved and were placed on the base of the unprotected boardwalk ramps. Also
purchased were 9 manual drop arm perimeter security gates from Perimeter Security
Products. These gates are secured with 3 of the aforementioned blocks and allow quick access points for
authorized vehicles to enter the boardwalk and beach; including Police, Fire, Ambulances, Public Works and the
Beach Patrol.
Placement of the barriers was a fluid process, working around old infrastructure
and accommodating ADA compliance. Issues of blocking business assess,
driveways adjacent to boardwalk ramps, and fire hydrants required constant
evaluation and amending the deployment plan. The permanent bollards, although
more aesthetically pleasing, could not be placed in certain areas due to
underground utilities. The total cost of this project was approximately $400,000.
This project was partially funded by a $175,000.00 grant from the New Jersey
Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness called “Secure the Shore”. The
remainder balance was funded by the city budget.
These vehicle barriers are an added layer of protection and complement other security initiates implemented on
the boardwalk including LED lighting, 60 PTZ cameras and 98 stationary cameras.
This project was co-managed by Deputy Chief James Sarkos and Lieutenant Edward Leon.
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