In the early days of the public health crisis, Masters of Barricades (MOB) was one of the first companies to answer the state’s call to service. MOB reached out through the Nevada Health Response website and explained how it could support the community. 

 

“We saw an immediate need in the community to assist first responders at future testing sites and grocery stores with social distancing plans,” said Paul Ames, special events manager. “We didn’t know how much help might be needed, but we knew our company had the capacity, experience, manpower, and equipment to meet any needs.” 

 

As public and private sector entities mobilized, MOB knew traffic control and pedestrian management would become a critical component of the crisis response. The timing was right. Their early outreach helped streamline a barricade program for satellite testing sites managed by the Henderson Fire Department, Clark County Fire Department, and Las Vegas Fire & Rescue.

“The curbside testing site on the UNLV Shadow Lane Campus was one of the first locations we helped make possible,” said Paul. “The site, which is now managed by the Nevada National Guard, accommodates up to 300 appointments a day with drive-up service, pedestrian service, and special lanes for motorcycles and bicycles. They tested about 11,000 people there in a month.”

 

The largest testing site, managed by the Henderson Fire Department, is an appointment-only, drive-thru testing located at UNLV's Tropicana Avenue parking garage, adjacent to the Thomas & Mack Center. The traffic control plan required 2,000 cones, eight message boards, signage, and additional barricades. Another testing site, smaller in scale, is located at Texas Station Hotel & Casino's parking garage located on the south side of the property off Rancho Drive. The Southern Nevada Health District currently provides a calendar of COVID-19 testing sites and their days of operation. 

 

“We developed a system with the first responders and the Nevada National Guard,” explains Paul. “We have an onsite contact who can call us up and request equipment any time. We deliver whatever they need wherever they need it and set up any message boards.” 

 

Paul said MOB always enjoys working with first responders and has developed a great working relationship with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. The association grew out of working major special events together. MOB also provides assistance for special events hosted by law enforcement such as the department’s annual ‘Trunk or Treat’ and National Night Out: Uniting For Community Safety events. 

 

“We’re always ready to support the men and women in blue, especially when it means bringing them together with the public to work as a community,” said Paul. “LVMPD knows we’re always ready to sign on as a sponsor, just as we’re ready to provide near-cost rates for other first responders or lower rates for any private sector needs related to the crisis.” 

 

For example, MOB created plans and set up pedestrian lanes for Costco locations during the peak of the crisis response. The idea was to encourage social distancing when Costco limited the number of people in the store at any given time because it was overwhelmed with shoppers.

 

MOB has a long-standing reputation for investing in the communities where the company operates — a value associated with being among the best traffic control companies in the nation. For more information on special events or crisis response that requires traffic planning, traffic control, pedestrian management, or social distancing plans, MOB is only one call away.