Cracked pole causes concerns in Bristol

BRISTOL, Conn. (WTNH) - A man called New 8 for help because a cracked telephone pole is still causing concerns in his Bristol neighborhood.

Robert Haire lives on Woodridge Road, he is concerned about a storm damaged telephone pole on the corner.

The cracked pole was hit by a car just before the autumn nor-easter which damaged it further.

The pole has since been braced, but now the braces are starting to crack and fracture. Haire said the problem is such a concern to the neighborhood. The school bus driver won't pick up students at the corner of Woodridge because of the fears surrounding the pole.

"My kids have to walk a quarter mile up the road to another bus stop because they use to stand right, and the bus driver is afraid the poll might snap, and I can't blame the bus driver," said Haire.

The pole which had been temporarily braced by Connecticut Light and Power is beginning to shift. The wires attached to the pole have begun to sag across Haire's driveway, and last week an oil truck pulled down the phone wire during a delivery.

Haire is worried about the safety of his two children.

"They are not even allowed to play in the yard because this thing could come down, it's a ticking time bomb," said Haire.

CL&P said they know about the pole and it 's already on the list to be replaced. The company has already gotten permission from the gas and other underground utilities.  Although CL&P did not give an exact timeline as to when the pole would be fixed, it will be soon.

"I mean that is great news," said Haire. "About 20 minutes after you called CL&P, there was a guy who pulled up in a black SUV and took some pictures of the number on the pole."

Haire said it would be a great relief to see the pole being replaced.