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Fat light poles

Imagine, it’s winter and you’re approaching the turn down the hill to T.J. Meenach Bridge. The temp ticks down to 32 degrees.

Those new “fat” light poles come to life: You know, the ones near the top and bottom of the hill. A red light on top of the light poles, like the ones on fire trucks, starts flashing. The traffic signals at Northwest Boulevard and Elliot Drive freeze red in all lanes and directions. A little door opens on the fat light poles and a spinning plate (like the ones on the back of sanding trucks) starts sending out gravel onto the road way, where traction is critical.

When this three-minute cycle is over, drivers get traction where they need it the most. The red light stops flashing; the gravel door closes and traffic signals resume their cycles and folks get to their destination. No, these fat light poles haven’t been created yet. I’m just planting the seed.

Larry Treffry

Spokane

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