Follow-up: Why the Viaduct warning lights weren’t on

notflashing.jpgAs promised, we asked SDOT to explain why the “Alaskan Way Viaduct Closed When Flashing” warning lights didn’t go on till mid-afternoon Saturday, long after the long-planned shutdown began early Saturday morning. The answer, e-mailed by SDOT spokesperson Marybeth Turner — the lights didn’t malfunction, they just weren’t turned on:

In response to your inquiry, the “Viaduct Closed When Flashing” signs were mistakenly turned on late on Saturday. Although the road barricades and street closure signs were in place on time, the flashing lights warning drivers of the need to use other routes were not activated. We now have a procedure in place to ensure it won’t happen again.

6 Replies to "Follow-up: Why the Viaduct warning lights weren't on"

  • Al October 20, 2008 (8:11 pm)

    Gah!

  • JanS October 20, 2008 (8:15 pm)

    really… ! just plug the damned thing in – lol…

  • MrJT October 20, 2008 (8:52 pm)

    Lets get Tim Eyman to write an initiatve that they HAVE to make them work.

  • Sue October 20, 2008 (9:09 pm)

    This isn’t the first time it’s happened though, so that’s a pretty lame excuse on their behalf. A week or two ago they closed 99 for one of those charity walks, and I went by and the lights weren’t on then either.

  • arietta October 20, 2008 (9:38 pm)

    My favorite corporate meaningless phrase: “we need to put some strategies in place for dealing with some things.”

  • westside October 21, 2008 (1:52 pm)

    but they then did not turn the sign off in the evening! even after the seneca st. exit was reopened!

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