On Oncor's Super Bowl To-Do List: Get Those Commerce St. Bridge Lights Back On (Finally)

By Robert Wilonsky Mon., Jan. 24 2011 at 9:11 AM

Driving home from the Kessler Theater Friday night, I was reminded yet again of how drab and shabby the Commerce Street bridge over the Trinity River looks in the dark, what with more than a dozen of the old streetlights inoperable since who can remember when. I made a note to call the city this morning to find out who's responsible for their repair. Seeing as how the city's tidying up before Super Bowl crowds arrive next week, I figured surely that's on the to-do list, what with downtown hotels booked solid and more than a few outta-towners sure to take Commerce to the Belmont or Smoke or to visit Oak Cliff (it's also a handy shortcut for those using Sylvan to head west on 30, ahem).

So, funny thing: I open the Metro section this morning and see the Commerce Street lights top the DMN Problem Solver's list. Says right there: They've "been out for years," are Oncor's responsibility and that "repairs are scheduled." Great. Excellent. Awesome news. But, like, when? Doesn't say.

I called Oncor's PR department this morning for a better answer. Ashley Burton took my questions, asked around, then called me back.

"Those lights are on our list for repairs," she told me. "We don't have a set date, but we are hoping to have them back on before the Super Bowl." But, she says, it's a rather complicated repair job: "There's a problem with the circuit" that keeps all the lights on, Burton explained. "It's not just as simple as replacing a bulb. But we are hoping they'll be back on before the Super Bowl."

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stinamx

Does anybody know how to book a HOTEL ROOM at this HILTON ANATOLE for SUPER BOWL? We at www.TheFinalsHotels.com and www.14sb.com, 917-224-1231 can't keep our hands on them, even though we have GREAT DEALS on NFL HEADQUARTER HOTELS and many other LUXURY HOTELS... Dial 1-4SUPER-BOWL

Senguin04

You can report a streetlight is out at the following website

https://www.oncorstreetlight.c...

Syd_Nancy

If you see a streetlight out,and you want it fixed, call Oncor and report it, it is the only way that they will know that it is out, I doubt they read this blog. Also, Oncor only replaces or repairs lights in an emergency,they sub out the lighting work to local contractors, which is nice, since Oncor is owned by a foreign Co. This is another reason that they are unaware of light outages.

FRED

How about the lights which hang over Mockingbird Lane from Central to Stonewall Jackson Elementary? And those columns on the Knox-Henderson bridges over Central-- I don't think they've every all been lit at the same time since it opened.

CueCat

Maybe the Super Bowl crowds can persuade Oncor to turn on the lights under Woodall Rodgers at Field Street that have been off since the construction of the deck park started.

trek1red

If they are fixing the Commerce Street Bridge, how about I-35E from 635 south to I-20.

Wylie H.

Does the City, like, ever make any effort to enforce the franchise agreement with Oncor, or does Leppert just kinda let them do whatever the hell they want in return for having the periodic ability to squeeze them for $1 million or so whenever he has some sort of pet cause that needs funding?

Oak Cliff Townie

You ever think those lights might be off for a reason ?

Then again they were working until Some red headed old guy in a robe PJs and house slippers was seen waking towards East Dallas carrying a Shot gun.

Montemalone

Is Jeezus back?

pak152

worse schutze has escaped

Robert Wilonsky

I believe he's presently under the bridge. Working on his tags.

John_McKee

More complicated? Oh dear, I guess it is a good thing that we pay a company that specializes in repairing complicated electric infrastructure millions of dollars a year to fix these things.

Maybe we could call those people up and make them fix the lights post-haste like we pay them to do.