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EASTON, Conn. Noreen Forde says a tilting, splintered utility pole at the end of her driveway has her so frightened she no longer allows her children to wait for the school bus there.
This is a disgrace," Forde says. "It has been like this since the 17th of October. This is an accident waiting to happen.
The United Illuminating Company-owned pole sits at the edge of her driveway on Westport Road, a block from Route 58. It was severely damaged when a car slammed into it.
"There is no support to this pole," she said. "We are so afraid a strong wind can take this thing down, and we just dont know which way its going.
The pole is just a few inches from the roadway and several feet from her driveway. Forde, who has two young children, said she now makes her children wait for the bus in the middle of her driveway. It's just not safe near the pole, she said.
A week after the incident, Forde says, a UI truck delivered a new pole, but instead of installing it, they left it on the grass. At first I thought, this is great, they are going to fix the problem. But then weeks went by and nothing, she said.
Forde says she called UI dozens of times and has yet to see any action. They keep telling me that it is going to get fixed tomorrow, but tomorrow always comes and nothing gets fixed, she said. Forde said she was forced to go to the media in hopes that publicity would bring action.
I dont know what else to do," she says. "Someone really needs to wake these guys up.
UI spokesman Michael West could not be reached for comment.
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