Traffic lights leave commuters in dark

By Liz Navratil

‘ ‘ ‘ The traffic at Fifth Avenue and Bigelow Boulevard was worse than normal yesterday evening… ‘ ‘ ‘ The traffic at Fifth Avenue and Bigelow Boulevard was worse than normal yesterday evening when the stoplights stopped working. ‘ ‘ ‘ Joseph Vallerian, a spokesperson for Duquesne Light, said the power company had a problem with an underground electrical cable that affected the intersection and parts of North Oakland. ‘ ‘ ‘ Pitt police received the call that the stoplights stopped working at 4:38 p.m. and sent six officers to the intersection to direct traffic, leaving the emergency lights on their cars flashing while they worked. City police sent at least two officers to the intersection as well. ‘ ‘ ‘ The last Pitt police officer left the intersection two and a half hours later, at 7:04 p.m. ‘ ‘ ‘ Pitt police said the people driving through the intersection were generally understanding, and there weren’t any accidents.