Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, September 14, 1993 TAG: 9309140188
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C5 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short
The light fixtures should withstand winds up to 100 mph.
Since 1989, winds have toppled six light poles and the signals attached to them on Virginia Beach Boulevard, including one in April that fell on a passing car.
Reports of that accident prompted an emergency inspection and repair effort by the city. The inspection found that about 40 percent of left-turn signal poles in city medians had problems such as loose nuts and misaligned bolts.
The city reinforced 50 signal poles but ran out of parts for 42 others. Another 115 poles that the city contends are the responsibility of the state Department of Transportation have not been repaired.
"It's currently under review," said Denis Gribock, resident engineer with the state agency. "I hope this issue can be resolved to everybody's satisfaction, and quickly. I can assure you we are working on it."
City officials say motorists have little to fear, even though the poles support signals that weigh up to 100 pounds.
"They'd be fine unless we have a high-wind situation," said Joseph D. Russell Jr., the city's highway administrator.
Most of the problem poles were traced to the widening of Virginia Beach Boulevard, a project done in three phases from March 1986 to August 1991. But both the city and state inspected the work of the contractor and approved it.
Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.