In the Calgary community of Southwood, a string of streetlights went dark, leaving residents concerned about their safety. Resident Jenn Kirkup expressed particular worry for children, as the lack of light poses a risk in school zones, especially as it starts to get dark earlier. Becky Poschman highlighted the impact on community parks and playgrounds, which were rendered unsafe due to the unlit stretch. The issue came to light following an audit by the City of Calgary, revealing that high priority calls for repairs, like the one in Southwood, were taking an average of 77 days to address, significantly longer than the targeted 14 days. Troy McLeod, Director of Mobility for the City of Calgary, attributed the delays to a change in contractors and the harsh winter conditions. The city’s streetlight team has since taken action, hiring additional help to tackle the growing waiting list for repairs. As a result, the response time has been reduced to 10 days, and the number of outages has been significantly decreased. McLeod emphasized the importance of reporting any malfunctioning streetlights by calling 311 or using the city app to ensure timely repairs and maintain a safe environment for residents.
Southwood Residents Fear for Kids’ Safety as Streetlights Remain Dark
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