Traffic light outages in Winnipeg

Who likes to be stuck in traffic? I guess, no none, but that is what you have to deal with in a big city. There are certain streets and neighborhoods you know you always will be stuck in traffic, so, naturally, people try to plan their routes avoiding such roads. What can be worse than downtown traffic with all the cars and traffic lights, well… try downtown with all the electricity down?

A city spokesperson said the outages affected traffic lights at 38 intersections in the East Kildonan area, and across the city. Five other intersections experienced traffic light issues where the causes are being investigated by crews, according to the city.

The lights went out for thousands of Manitoba Hydro customers as thunderstorms rolled across southern Manitoba Monday morning.

The representative of Manitoba Hydro said that extra crews are working to try to restore service to customers and traffic lights. He said there could be a number of factors behind a traffic light outage, including severe weather, vehicle collisions, animal contact and water from a downpour leaking into underground cable ducts causing cable faults.