NORTHAMPTON — In the middle of Perkins Avenue midday Wednesday, a phone line hung so low across the street one could reach up and grab it. Strips of yellow caution tape hung down from the wire to warn drivers on the otherwise quiet residential street.
The line had been down since last week, residents and Northampton police said. On Wednesday afternoon, it was finally removed by Verizon, according to the company.
“I know it’s driving the neighbors crazy,” said public safety dispatcher Lisa Day earlier in the day, when the Gazette began inquiring about the low voltage line dangling across the street.
She said that city authorities contacted Verizon multiple times since last Friday morning, asking the company to fix the issue.
“We’ve been calling Verizon continuously,” Day said. “We were told every time someone would come out take care of it.”
On Wednesday afternoon, nearly a week after residents said the issue began, a Verizon spokesman said the company took care of the problem.
Doug Luce is one neighborhood resident who reported the issue to the police after he looked out of his house on Perkins Avenue last Thursday.
“I saw the wire and thought, ‘Oh geez,’” he said.
Standing outside his house and gesturing to the drooping line midday Wednesday, he said, “That’s the way it’s been.”
In recent days, he said he watched trucks drive down his street, only to have to reverse back the way they came because of the wire.
Greta Jochem can be reached at gjochem@gazettenet.com