Storm damage to power lines on the causeway
From what I've heard they're handing out tickets good to CP or KI anytime this summer. Sounds similar to what they did during the water main break.
The funny thing about weather is that it's unpredictable. Just be glad no one was seriously hurt on the causeway. It's just another unfortunate incident that just so happened to fall on CoasterMania weekend. Heck, I'm still laughing from the port-a-potties suggestion from the 2014 water main incident.
-Adam G- The OG Dragster nut
PyroKinesis09 said:
CPGuru said:
If I recall correctly, we had a damaged part of the causeway just a few months back that was patched up and now this, and not to mention the constant bumper to bumper back ups on busy days. I think it's time Cedar Point invests in an updated Causeway, with electrical running underground, and widened to 6-lanes.
Nah. How long has this system been working? 100+ years?
That's exactly why it needs upgrading. We're sitting on 100+ year old infrastructure. It's no longer 1900, and why not plan an upgrade for the next 100+ years. The current infrastructure was not designed to handle 3.5 million visitors a year, and it's staring to show on busy days. And the current standard for electrical infrastructure is no longer above ground but underground. Not to mention, infrastructure rarely makes it 100+ years without receiving upgrades, not only speaking for Cedar Point.
The causeway opened in 1957, so it will be 60 years next year. And power lines can go down on any road. Running underground utilities through a lake would be very difficult, and cost prohibitive. And traffic is only a problem on a handful of days out of the entire season. I don't think the park is going to invest millions of dollars for something that only happens a few days out of the year.
Brian
Valravn Rides: 24| Steel Vengeance Rides: 27| Dragster Rollbacks: 1
Do you really think the electrical service hasn't been updated in a 100 years? Also, since the front of the park didn't loose power, there is obviously electrical service other than the Causeway power lines. I'm at Chickie's and Pete's right now and asked the bartender if they lost power and they did not.
I'd rather be in my boat with a drink on the rocks,
than in the drink with a boat on the rocks.
Thabto said:
The causeway opened in 1957, so it will be 60 years next year. And power lines can go down on any road. Running underground utilities through a lake would be very difficult, and cost prohibitive. And traffic is only a problem on a handful of days out of the entire season. I don't think the park is going to invest millions of dollars for something that only happens a few days out of the year.
Maybe just invest in steel poles to hold up the lines.
60 years, 100 years, doesn't really matter. If Cedar Point wants to go past becoming a regional amusement park to becoming a full fledged multi-day resort destination, it needs to start at it's bare foundations to support 5+ million guests per year, if not more (I'm sure their goal is 5+ million by year 2100 haha) You're mistaking if you think the causeway at its current state is okay to handle that. And it's okay to invest $60 million in their hotel but not invest proper money in upgrading the electrical infrastructure to make sure their guests are safe? We could be at a completely different tone had someone been injured, or God forbid died today from the power lines going down. Thank God that didn't happen. The least they can do is upgrade from wooden posts (again, 100+ year old technology) to steel posts, but running the wiring directly underneath the road is not that expensive (relatively speaking, for a corporation that already spends tens of millions on things). No need to go underneath the lake.
The power has been constantly upgraded over the years to handle growing demand. Those rectangular concrete panels you see on parameter road are access points for underground power. Most cities have above ground power distribution and the high voltage coming from a power plant is also above ground. I don't think your points are valid. There is also nothing wrong with the Causeway, traffic slowdowns happen because of the toll plaza not because the road is too narrow.
I'd rather be in my boat with a drink on the rocks,
than in the drink with a boat on the rocks.
I'm not talking about power demand. I'm talking about post technology. Wooden posts are still 100+ year old technology and are unsafe. It's rear that wooden posts are upgraded with wooden posts nowadays. They are upgraded with safer steel posts, or the electricity is ran underground. All I'm saying is that it's time Cedar Point do this if they want to position themselves for the future. That, or they can keep replacing wooden posts with wooden posts every time a storm comes through.
And the slow downs I'm referring to happen on the exit when people leave the park at night, that is not due to toll booths.
We arrived at ~1:45 pm today from the West. Going through Downtown Sandusky we were caught in a rain and brief sleet storm that was intense. It looked like a video game scene. Huge trees down, large limbs all over the roads, power lines draped along the road. We had to navigate downtown like a maze only to arrive on the causeway about 6 or 8 cars behind "the scene." Emergency vehicles were arriving and told us all to turn around, although by then the storm had mostly subsided. We took the Cedar Point Rd and finally made it to Breakers.
The staff here are really trying, but it's a pretty significant mess. Basically the lobby, Rotunda, and the half of the hotel North of them are out of power. They have decent generated "emergency" lighting in those areas, but no A/C. Starbucks, Fridays, Tomo, Perkins and all of SandCastle (from what I heard from a guest staying there) are all closed/out of power. Surf Lounge service bottled beer while it's cold only--no TVs, etc. Lobby only has 1 computer running on battery backup and line is ~2 hours long to check-in--in some cases to a room with no A/C or power. The staff have made efforts--they are bringing in free Domino's Pizza (but keep running out), and bottled water as well. The South half of the hotel has full power in the rooms and we're fortunate to have rooms there.
Obviously, much bigger issues than no A/C in the grand scheme of things, but people are frustrated, hot, hungry and tired and I did see some pretty irritated people in the lobby waiting to get this sorted out. Hopefully some comps/refunds will be in order, but I'm just glad (per the TV news I just watched) that there don't appear to be any reports of serious injuries or fatalities. That surprised me, because it looked bad there for a bit.
Cedar Point is not the only area in Sandusky to have damage. There is nothing wrong with wooden poles, they are still the standard pretty much everywhere except new development. I have yet to see a wooden utility post replaced with a steel utility post. I'm sure it's being done somewhere but I haven't seen it yet. The only difference between these poles and any others in Sandusky or the surrounding area is that they happen to be on the Cedar Point causeway. Poop happens. Cedar Point is not some magical utopia where poop cannot happen. Just be glad nobody was hurt and that it was utility poles down not tall rides. This will probably all be fixed within a few days. In the grand scheme of things this really doesn't count as a major disaster. I wouldn't be surprised if they restore power by tomorrow and detour everyone through the chausee while they replace the poles. I'm not saying they should, just that I won't be surprised if that's what happens.
Metal poles are usually used for their longer life span, not because they are any more resistant to storm damage.
The wooden poles most certainly don't fail 'every time a storm comes through' because storms happen on a frequent basis and poles coming down does not; there is nothing inherently unsafe about a wooden utility pole. Its also not simple to bury power lines, you don't just dig a trench and drop them in, plus the causeway is a completely different entity than the mainland, made up of a series of bridges and man made land (Kafralu Island, as I understand it, is essentially discarded logs and other debris). Not to mention how little it matters if there are aboveground lines that service the park before they get to the causeway.
Girl: "l want to ride that yellow one again... Twisted Wicker"
Me: "It's a roller coaster, not a broken clothes hamper."
Paisley said:
...There is nothing wrong with wooden poles, they are still the standard pretty much everywhere except new development. I have yet to see a wooden utility post replaced with a steel utility post...
My wife is an electrical engineer and she can assure you that wooden posts are no longer the standard ;)
She says, and I quote: "Just because our governments are bankrupt and cannot afford the current standards for our people..."
Looks like the rest of the park and hotels has power now, and the webcams are back up.
The utility poles on the causeway are part of the Utility, in this case - Ohio Power's distribution system and are not maintained by CP. But yeah, don't let some facts get in the way of irrational complaining.
Amazing how wood poles are just fine until a large storm with damaging winds come through, and this has happened how many times since the causeway was installed?
Thought this was funny.
#CP100REASONS Reason 101: In case the power goes out.
What an irrational argument.
Better tear down all those wooden trees on the causeway, they can knock down power lines and murder people.
While they're at it, tear down all those wooden trees in the park too! Hazardous, I tell you!
New for 2024- Wicked Twister Plus
CPGuru said:
My wife is an electrical engineer and she can assure you that wooden posts are no longer the standard ;)
She says, and I quote: "Just because our governments are bankrupt and cannot afford the current standards for our people..."
Ask her how safe those steel poles are when people cut off the grounding conductor for scrap...
And once again, not to let facts get in the way of complaints but I was wondering what "standard' you are referencing that states steel poles are to be used for 14kv+ electrical distribution systems?
You must be logged in to post