PROTECTION OF PROMENADE DES ANGLAIS IN NICE

The devastating attack on Nice's Promenade des Anglais on July 14, 2016, marked a turning point for urban security in France. This tragic event, where a vehicle was used as a weapon against civilians, highlighted the acute vulnerability of pedestrian areas to such threats. It sparked a nationwide reassessment of security measures in public spaces, including pedestrian zones, tourist landmarks, airports, and stadiums.

Cities across France were compelled to confront the challenge of protecting these areas while preserving their accessibility and aesthetic value.

The incident underscored the pressing need for innovative solutions that could prevent future tragedies by effectively mitigating the risk of vehicle incursions into crowded public spaces.

In response, the Nice-Côte-d’Azur municipality took decisive action to bolster the safety of pedestrians along the Promenade des Anglais by implementing an advanced anti-incursion system.

Maccaferri, renowned for its engineering solutions, was tasked with creating a barrier that adhered to the specific safety requirements set forth by the Nice municipality.

The criteria demanded a system capable of halting a 19-ton truck traveling at a speed of 50 km/h and colliding at an angle of 20°. The resulting MacSafe® system is designed to limit deformation to less than 3 meters upon impact, thereby ensuring the protection of pedestrians in proximity to the barrier.

Moreover, MacSafe® seamlessly blends with the scenic environment of the Promenade des Anglais. It features two high-tensile steel cables running longitudinally, supported by steel posts equipped with energy-dissipating systems at each end. These posts also incorporate a tamper-proof mechanism that simplifies the processes of cable installation and tensioning.

Flexibility is a key component of the MacSafe® system, allowing for partial or complete disassembly based on changes in security threat levels.

This adaptability was demonstrated in July 2017 during the Ironman race in Nice, when the system's cables were temporarily removed to accommodate the event's logistics, before being promptly reinstated.