Tulsa World: Most of city traffic lights are on again

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Most of city traffic lights are on again

Traffic backs up at a four-way stop at 11th Street and Lewis Avenue on Monday. City workers had to build additional four-way stop signs when traffic lights at 260 of the city’s 465 intersections with traffic signals lost power last week. MIKE SIMONS / Tulsa World

By NICOLE MARSHALL World Staff Writer
Published: 12/18/2007 1:21 AM
Last Modified: 12/18/2007 1:21 AM

More than half of Tulsa's traffic lights were rendered powerless at the peak of the ice storm a week ago.

Just after midday Monday, power had been returned to signals at all but 30 of those 465 intersections.

As the storm descended on the city Dec. 9, traffic lights at 260 intersections lost power, said City Traffic Operations Manager Mark Brown.

Workers had to make additional four-way stop signs to place at intersections where the lights weren't working, he said.

''I don't think we have ever seen that many out at one time,'' Brown said.

Traffic backed up at major intersections as drivers waited to take their turns, but Tulsa Police Officer Jason Willingham said the number of crashes at intersections where the signals weren't working was not significantly increased.

Police officers stayed busy handling higher priority public-safety calls and were not assigned to direct traffic at intersections for any prolonged amount of time.

A rash of burglaries and robberies occurred during the power outages, and officers were also needed to patrol areas without power to deter thieves, Willingham said.

''We still have some major intersections without power, but we simply don't have the resources to dedicate officers to direct traffic'' at intersections, he said. Officers have directed traffic around road hazards caused by downed power lines and automobile crashes, he added.

Reserve

officers also were not used to direct traffic because their numbers are low right now, and the 40 the department has have been assigned to patrol shopping areas during the holidays to protect shoppers, Willingham said.

Brown said the number of traffic lights without power was at a ''more manageable'' number Monday.

Once power is restored to an area, the traffic lights at in tersections flash red, and technicians examine the equipment to ensure that it is ready to resume normal operation.

The congested intersections are not only a frustration for drivers, but they pose challenges for emergency responders, EMSA ambulance service spokeswoman Tina Wells said.

The traffic tie-ups result in longer responses times, but medics do what they can to adapt and get to patients as soon as they can, she said.

Ambulance crews are posted at various locations throughout the community so they can get to calls as quickly as possible, Wells said.

Nicole Marshall 581-8459
nicole.marshall@tulsaworld.com

By NICOLE MARSHALL World Staff Writer

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	Report Comment PR, Tulsa (12/18/2007 8:04:07 AM) #1, I'm sorry if you don't have power but your conspiracy theory is a bit much. Believe it or not, Kathy Taylor's house didn't have power until late this weekend as she lives near my mother. There are still lots of people in midtown without power. I've talked to several out of state power crews and they all said they got the call to leave last Monday afternoon during the ice storm and to pack for two weeks. And they would most likely not be home for Christmas. How about giving them a break; yes they are being compensated for it by AEP/PSO but I'm sure being away from their families for 2+ weeks over the holidays is a bit to ask.
	Report Comment wmcol, Tulsa (12/18/2007 8:47:51 AM) Morning paper indicates crews will stay until all power is restored to where locals can handle it. North Tulsa gets some pretty shabby treatment from the powers that be, but you hurt your cause with the sarcasm, and misrepresentation on such serious issues. The discrimination and neglect of North Tulsa by the power structure(no pun intended) is real enough without fabrication.
	Report Comment in the dark, tulsa (12/18/2007 9:23:59 AM) Traffic lights at Admiral/Delaware are certainly not on! Why would they be? This part of town gets crapped on constantly by the city. There is a half mile square area with no power and Mayor Taylor had the nerve to go joy-riding in a helicopter Sunday to look at that area. She buzzed my house three times. I have no downed wires in my yard and no damage to my meter so where is my power? Instead of loking at damage and thumbing your nose at the north side why aren't you at least helping to trim branches or something?
	Report Comment JW, (12/18/2007 10:31:32 AM) The light at first and main is not on. totally ridiculous.
	Report Comment Susan, (12/18/2007 2:26:00 PM) Note that the article said MOST not ALL lights were working. Give the division lines a rest. The power is out all over town. Not just ONE area.
	Report Comment Brian, Tulsa (12/18/2007 3:03:14 PM) I am so sick of the whiners in this town. If you honsetly belive that the city or the state is ignoring you then LEAVE. I moved to this state in 92 with just under $500 and I was able to make it. If you really think that your being ignored then stop bitchin and move!

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