Comments on: A sidewalk mystery revealed, plus a little see-through something

By: kirk

kirk — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 20:36:12 +0000

I ride my bike past the SE corner of Washington & Portland most mornings and for the past couple years the sewer at that corner absolutely STINKS. I feel for the poor people who bought condos there, unawares. Hopefully the red light is part of an odor reduction plan.

By: Morg

Morg — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:23:32 +0000

How resistant are the glass panels to gang tags?

By: Joe G

Joe G — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:05:39 +0000

It’s easy to install a sensor that will call automatically, but it’s much more difficult (read: expensive) to get a phone line installed and an account set up with the phone company for such a temporary use. You could put a cell phone out there but it needs a charging source, which poses similar problems as the phone line. There’s probably some kind of radio-based battery device, but either way, it sounds like it’s only a minor problem if it stops pumping, so why spend anything more than a few bucks for the sign?

By: Roadguy

Roadguy — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:47:32 +0000

Roadguy does know — click here to read all about it.

By: Kestrel

Kestrel — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:31:56 +0000

Okay, another light question: What are the blinking lights for on 394’s underpasses?

The lights are single, simple circular dots, mounted (if memory serves) on square panels. They’re affixed to the undersides of bridges over the highway, usually tucked under an overhang, and as one drives by they blink intermittently.

I have assumed that they’re related to the HOV lane’s permit system; not having a pass to drive that lane without a passenger, though, perhaps I am inclined to think conspiratorial thoughts about those who have ‘em.

Does roadguy know?

By: Mark Wallin

Mark Wallin — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:24:08 +0000

They make sensors that will automatically call when an event occurs. It seems like that would be a better idea than relying on passersby to phone it in. Yet, the city office said the only other alternative was to pay a person to monitor it. They need to get up to date on technology that is available to them….

By: Charlie Wetherall

Charlie Wetherall — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:12:17 +0000

I spotted one of the red lights that was “on” at the corner of 32nd & Bryant in Minneapolis. I called the number. The woman who answered had no idea what the hell I was talking about. “What red light?,” she asked. “Where?” “Call this number?” I can almost see her eyes glossing over I told her what the sign said. Next time I’ll ignore the red light and go on my way.