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March 25, 2012
Emergency caused by construction when the Carlton Avenue traffic light is knocked down again
Atlantic Yards Watch
Construction apparently caused an emergency yesterday morning when a traffic signal at the Carlton Avenue and Pacific Street intersection was knocked down for the fourth time this year. This time the knocked over light blocked Pacific Street and electric wires were exposed. Because vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian traffic wasn't routed away from the site, all used the same sidewalk to get around the problem. The incident occurred only a few feet from the location of the work removing the mock-up of the Barclays Center facade announced with a Supplemental Construction Alert on Friday.
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Because electric wires were exposed and the street was blocked, the resident called 911. Fire fighters from Dean Street's 105th Ladder Company apparently appeared 25 or more minutes later. Several workers associated with Hunt then also came to the site and spoke to firefighters, but refused to identify themselves or talk to residents.
No source of the problem was volunteered by Hunt or the firefighters. An electrician working for the city who arrived around the same time as the fire fighters confirmed construction was the cause. When asked if taxpayers or the construction firm would pay for the work to restore the light, he suggested it would likely be taxpayers.
Related coverage...
Atlantic Yards Report, From Atlantic Yards Watch: construction accident knocks down light at Carlton Avenue and Pacific Street near work removing facade panel, but sequence remains murky
Here's the video, but much more at Atlantic Yards Watch.
Note that, while an electrician working for the city, according to AY Watch, "confirmed construction was the cause," a Forest City Ratner rep says it was a truck from P.C. Richard. Check back for further updates.
Posted by steve at March 25, 2012 11:40 PM