Emma Levez
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jul 01/98) - Police are blaming confused drivers for a collision at the intersection of Old Airport Road and Byrne Road on Monday.

It may not be the last accident related to malfunctioning traffic lights in the city.

A lightning strike on Friday destroyed traffic signal timing at a number of Yellowknife intersections, and they may not be working until Thursday.

"It was a bad lightning storm and we had hits all around town," said Steve MacRae, public works engineer. "According to Northland Utilities, there was a pretty bad strike at the Jackfish power plant."

The crossing at Norseman Drive and Franklin Avenue, and the Old Airport Road intersections with Franklin Avenue, Borden Drive, Range Lake Road and Byrne Road are currently in 24-hour flashing mode.

According to a report from public works, the power surge from the lightning bolt overloaded traffic light circuitry. The damaged controllers have been sent back to the supplier in St. Albert, Alta., and it is hoped that replacement controllers (and the signals) will be back in full operation by Thursday at the latest.

"We had a similar occurrence in 1992, and we're always trying to increase surge protection," explained MacRae.

"We're doing our best to alleviate the problem and make sure that it doesn't happen again, but there are no guarantees."

Until the situation has been resolved, city drivers are required to co-operate in order to maintain safety. Flashing amber signals will be displayed on the main street and flashing red signals on the side streets.

Amber signals indicate the right of way. Drivers should slow down and proceed with caution.

Red signals indicate that the driver should stop and only continue when it is safe to do so. In both cases, the driver must yield to pedestrians within the cross-walks.

Because the intersection of Old Airport Road and Franklin Avenue is especially busy, lights in all directions will flash red. This situation requires that all vehicles come to a complete stop and proceed through the intersection only when it is safe to do so.

Despite the confusion, Dave Grundy at the RCMP says the public is being very patient, "We've had a couple (of complaints), but nothing major."