Maine Mall installs barriers for security

SOUTH PORTLAND – The Maine Mall has installed concrete Jersey barriers near most of its entrances as a security measure.

The move came late last month, after the Homeland Security Department raised the terrorism alert level to orange, the second-highest level on a five-step scale, said David Faulkner, the mall’s general manager.

Although there was no particular threat against the state’s largest shopping venue, the barriers were suggested by Simon Property Group, which manages the mall, Faulkner said.

The barriers will likely remain in place unless Simon Properties sends out word to remove them, he said.

The barriers commonly are used in highway construction. They were installed near the general mall entrances.

Stores with their own outside entrances, such as department stores, are responsible for them and decide for themselves whether to install them.