Utility pole left dangling over North End intersection for weeks

A business owner in the North End of Winnipeg says a snapped utility pole posed a safety hazardwhen it was left danglingover an intersection for weeks.

Eric Dihic saidthe utility pole at Sutherland Avenue and McFarlane Street North was damaged when a truck crashed into it in January.

A crew left the pole cut in half and placed three orange pylons below it,Dihicsaid, adding thathe wondered why Manitoba Hydro didnotcome to fix it.

"How do you keep a pole half up in the air and think this is safety?" A vehicle, a semi could come by here, twitch it and then the lines could all fall down," he said.

"You cannot have a pole dangling in the air without any barricades properly around it or closing off the street."

Manitoba Hydro saysthe pole in question is not theirs it belongs to MTS.

A Hydro spokesperson told CBC Newsitfollowed standard procedure in this caseandreported the problem to the phone company.

MTS officials said they weren't aware of a problem until Monday, but crews have since installed a new pole.The old pole has been strapped to it.

Hardware and cables are expected to be transferred to the new pole on Wednesday.