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Citizen complaint of the day: Our tacky-ass gas company
By adamg on Mon, 07/03/2023 - 9:46am
An irate citizen files a 311 complaint about how National Grid covered a hole at Alford Street and Maffa Way in Charlestown:
What in the literal f is this? Get National Grid’s tacky ass over here to fix this pit
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Comments
C.H.U.Ds at work!
But not to worry, between NGrid, exploding steam lines, manhole fires and the T, they don't stand a chance.
311 is a joke
Wow, a cool new interface for 311.
But there are still thousands of open 311 reports going back for years. Just on my street alone, there are open reports going back 13 years, including one I filed on 1-31-2012. Just a suggestion; what if we spend time, money, and effort to actually solve and/or clear all old reports rather than design a new interface.
In the case of my report from 2012 (when Menino was the mayor), the issue was solved. But the report is still open and sure looks fancy in the new interface.
We did get a new director
We did get a new director level position at the city hall out of it.
Isn't this pretty standard while work is still being done?
I'm not really sure what else they expect National Grid to do here...
No. A large open hole in the street is not "pretty standard."
I expect National Grid to place road plates to completely cover the hole. They haven't done that. They placed road plates to partially cover the hole. That isn't ok. They left a large open hole in a street. A few road cones don't make that ok.
But Sullivan Square wasn't
But Sullivan Square wasn't thrilling enough already! This takes it to a new level.
Don't know what they're
Don't know what they're actually doing here but they re-open the hole most nights to work on it and have been for probably a year (and I frequently smell gas when walking by it).
Let me revise my statement
Isn't this pretty standard...for Massachusetts streets? I've seen this exact thing, open hole and everything, all over the place (in and outside of the Boston area) for years.
No it’s not.
Would you like to double down again?
Mass Ave
Many years ago I was driving home on Mass Ave and encountered a road plate (like in the photo) that had been pushed forward, partially exposing the hole. I stopped and turned on my turn signal to switch lanes. There was a lot of traffic so I kept waiting and waiting.
The guy behind me was not happy. He kept laying on his horn. Finally I got fed up and just floored it to make it over the hole quickly. (I was in a rental car.)
My car bounced but was otherwise fine. In the rearview mirror I saw Mr. Impatient drive right into the hole and get stuck.
It's so satisfying to see karma in action.
I had a similar experience on the Mass Pike once.
The uncovered hole is not standard
Or to be precise, the uncovered hole should not be standard.
Must have run out of plates,
Must have run out of plates, usually plate overlaps hole and edges of plate pinned and hot topped
Waiting on a fix
It isn't like the workers have piles of hole asphalt in their pockets. The plates were probably done correctly, then whatever work they were doing in the hole dislodged a piece of the asphalt rim. All the workers can do is toss down a few cones until the work trucks can get back to cut out another section and add a new plate.
Seems less than optimal, especially with soaking rains forecast.
Shoddy.
maybe there is a reason?
kinda weird with the 3 cones and the hole. i don think i’ve ever seen that. it’s almost like somewhen left it that way purposely. how long has it been like that? are they coming back today?sometimes those guys in the holes are pretty smart people
(edited)
Speculation
The plates covered the hole when the contractor left but all the rain caved in a section of road adjacent to the plate. Some cop or DPW worker put the cones in front of the hole as a temporary "fix".
…or…
Alternate explanation: the rats that live underneath dug a new doorway. It's called "home improvement".
That could kill someone on a bicycle or motorcycle
it's all fun and games until...
a toddler wanders away or some kids are playing in the street and accidentally fall down into it
Someone on foot or…
…. or in a wheelchair as well. Even a driver.
Anyone.
Totally unacceptable. Yet it will be accepted nonetheless.
Typical biker (on a bicycle)
Plowing through three street cones because they’re more important than safety
Typical?
The only thing typical is your bitter farfetched comment.
Ever see a traffic cone blown away by a strong gust of wind? Or stolen to be someone’s space saver? Or even more likely, run over and displaced by some bonehead motorist on a mobile phone?
I have.
Try to get out more, robeleh. Preferably on a bike.
Am I the only one that thinks
Am I the only one that thinks Boston's underground lines and decrepit pipes combined with no human work ethic and skills are a recipe to blow some our neighborhoods up in smithereens? Columbia Gas and Merrimack Valley.
Am I the only one that thinks
Am I the only one that thinks Boston's underground lines and decrepit pipes combined with no human work ethic and skills are a recipe to blow some our neighborhoods up in smithereens? Columbia Gas and Merrimack Valley.
Spacesavers.
Spacesavers.
National Grid
I doubt this is permanent. They are probably still working on it.