Barricades removed from streets near gutted Gilbert Building [Video]

More than two months after the historic Gilbert Building burned, dozens of barricades blocking streets around the gutted downtown structure have been removed.

12News spoke with Beaumont Mayor Roy West and he says after this week’s city council meeting, the city directed its engineering department to bring Fittz & Shipman Inc. back in to meet with Alliance Engineering.

The city’s engineering department gave them more information about the barriers. Fittz & Shipman Inc. completed the initial report on the building.  

After a meeting with city engineering and Alliance Engineering, they said the sidewalks would have to remain barricaded, but there was no need to have barricades around the road.

Mayor West says he was notified about the decision Friday morning.

According to Communications Director Tracy Kennick, the structural engineers, Fitz & Shipman and Alliance, align with their determination that roadways may be opened given the following conditions: