READER REPORT: Utility pole falls, blocks Highland Park sidewalk

| Safety | Utilities | West Seattle news

10:14 AM: Thanks to Dina Johnson for the report and photos:

At 6 am today a “clunk” sound alerted us to a snapped utility pole/street light, leaving a live wire across the sidewalk on SW Henderson street between 12th & 13th Aves.

Passersby called it in to the city.

The impact miraculously caused no damage to the property, but the pole remains across the sidewalk, wedged against a retaining wall.

The rotted utility pole had been marked by the city several years ago, but never replaced.

SCL says it’s “accelerated” its pole-replacement program recently, and through April had replaced more than 560 citywide.

11:13 AM: Dina says the wire has been removed; the metal part of the pole is now wrapped in “caution” tape.

waikikigirl June 30, 2023 (11:24 am)

The power pole in front of our house/neighbors driveway was replaced last Fall and the “cable company…” has yet to come out and re-hook their lines to the new so here sits the old pole with just their “wires” on it next to the new pole.🤔 Very lucky no one or anything was hurt in this incident!

pg June 30, 2023 (1:28 pm)

I had the same situation – everyone except the ‘cable company’ had moved their wires. I spent *5 years* emailing various city workers, cable companies, etc. and finally got them to remove the old pole (which was partially blocking my driveway). Persistance paid off!

waikikigirl June 30, 2023 (2:07 pm)

Persistance??? I’d say more like a whole lot of patience! WOW I hope we don’t have to wait that long.🥴

Alki Jack June 30, 2023 (4:07 pm)

It is very, very lucky nobody wasn’t seriously hurt by the rotten pole falling down. Could have bunch of kids playing when it fell. These poles need to have regular inspections like elevators.

BlairJ July 1, 2023 (9:54 am)

The pole was inspected several years ago, and marked for removal. But they never followed up on it. This was on the last day of school, and a number of children walk along that sidewalk on their way to school. If it had fell a couple hours later, this could have been much worse.

anonyme July 1, 2023 (9:56 am)

How ridiculous is it that this pole was identified as rotten YEARS ago, and yet not replaced? Someone could have been killed. Yet another example of this city’s failure to maintain our infrastructure.