Cambridge to remove bollards which cost $130K and 'never quite worked'
City held back payment for the bollards when staff realized the bollards were faulty
The city of Cambridge has decided to remove a set of retractable bollards that ended up becoming more of a nuisance for city staff rather than a safety measure.
The four electrically-operated barriers on Dickson Street began to malfunction soon after they were installed almost a decade ago. The were installed to help block off car access to certain streets that would be open to pedestrians only during special events. The bollards, which were meant to come out of the ground with a simple touch of a button, were supposed to make it easier for staff to set up for events.
But the city's goal to more efficiently prepare for community events remained out of reach.
"They never quite worked satisfactorily," said Hardy Bromberg, Cambridge's deputy city manager for community development.
"Maybe only three quarters of [the bollards] would would rise and another day, only two of them. Sometimes all eight [would rise] and sometimes not at all. That was a real problem."
Bromberg says that's why the city decided not pay for the bollards, which cost $130,000 The issue was taken to court and there was a legal settlement in 2021 with Service Door Industries, the manufacturer of the bollards, and Nex Industrial, the supplier.
Bromberg says the cost to remove the bollards and repave the road will come from the city's capital fund, and was not included in the settlement. He estimates removal will cost the city approximately $20,000.
He says the city will be using portable barricades instead of the retractable bollards to block traffic during future events.
Bromberg says the bollards should be gone by early fall.
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