NORTH FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — A temporary fix for stolen storm grates along local interstates is raising questions from several drivers.
A viewer sent us photos showing a road sign being used to cover the hole left by a missing grate on Georgia 400.
Amy Allen says she was driving on the interstate Sunday when a wrong way driver caused a crash that closed several lanes.
Allen and hundreds of other drivers were at a dead stop in the southbound lanes as crews worked to clear the wreck.
Allen says when she decided to get out and walk around, she found something shocking.
“I was like, ‘OK, is this the only thing covering it?’” Allen said.
State highway workers used an old street sign to replace a missing storm drain grate in the inside emergency lane.
Allen said her concerns grew as emergency vehicles drove through the area.
"I sat there and watched that sign the whole time. And every time a vehicle crossed over it, it moved, it shifted, it bent. It was just a complete hole,” Allen said.
GDOT says stolen grates are a continuing problem along 400 and the signs are a cheap and temporary fix.
"It is a temporary fix, if you will. We have to order those grates, and it takes at least two to three months for them to come in,” said Annalysce Baker, with GDOT. "Those signs and the cones are there to notify motorists that the drain is missing."
Baker says it's been very difficult to keep up with the large number of metal grates that have been stolen. Channel 2 Action News has reported on the problem several times.
"A couple of months ago, we ordered about 100 grates,” Baker said.
Allen said she understands the need for a short term fix, but she just doesn't think it's a safe one.
"If they think that's a level, strong metal plate that's covering that drain and they think they can pull over and be safe, they're not going to be,” Allen said. "Why don't you just put Saran Wrap over it instead? It's like a piece of aluminum foil."
WSBTV
