WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — Traffic lights at a busy Northwest D.C. corner have been out for more than a month.
Drivers and people trying to cross E Street and New Jersey Avenue said it’s a safety issue.
A lot of drivers were laying on their horns to avoid accidents and DC News Now witnessed many near misses Tuesday afternoon at the intersection.
“Cars were just passing by. They wouldn’t even stop or hesitate,” Alex Aleman said.
It’s because traffic lights here have been out for more than a month after a manhole fire destroyed cables and traffic signals.
“They need this intersection right here because it gets very congested,” Sam Douglas said.
Sam Redfern said he didn’t see the cars coming while he was crossing.
“I thought they’d all stop for me and they didn’t,” Redfern said. “So thankfully, no incident. But, yeah, it obviously needs to be addressed.”
It appears one solution was to put stop signs in.
On Tuesday afternoon, there were only three stop signs up and the fourth sign was broken and was lying on the sidewalk. Crews replaced the fourth stop sign late Tuesday night.
“Those don’t work. Come on,” Redfern said.
DC News Now witnessed cars ignore the stop signs and even hit them.
Ann and Alex Aleman are staying in the Hyatt Hotel on the corner and have witnessed the chaos for the past five days.
“Vehicles coming from this area, this direction, they were just passing, shoo,” Alex Aleman said.
After DC News Now called the DC Department of Transportation (DDOT), several crew members came to direct traffic during rush hour.
“It took a phone call for this to happen? Well, I’m glad that happened instead of having to come and see somebody on the floor,” Ann Aleman said.
People biking, walking and driving hope to see the problem fixed before someone gets hurt.
DDOT is working with Pepco to find a solution. Repairs for the traffic lights should only take two days.
