Documents reviewed by Reuters make clear that the system, which is expected to be in place by Super Bowl Sunday, will offer little protection against vehicle attacks at any significant speed.

"There has been a mass casualty incident on Canal and Bourbon Street. Get yourself away from the area," NOLA Ready said.

New Orleans' planned Bourbon Street barriers, with a 10 mph crash rating, are criticized for being insufficient to stop high-speed attacks, especially after a deadly New Year's Day vehicle attack killed 14.

The rating of the new system “is exponentially, far less than what they currently have,” an owner of a bollard manufacturing company said. Here's more.