What else to call the news that the Republican-American obtained but dangerous? According to the Courant:

A contractor on the troubled Interstate 84 widening project in Greater Waterbury has warned that pieces of 70 light poles could be poorly secured and might fall into the roadway, according to newly released documents.

Most of the 18-inch metal arms were secured with defective brackets when they were attached atop of the poles along the project’s 3.5-mile stretch, according to a letter from O & G Industries to the state Department of Transportation.

The letter was among documents obtained by the Republican-American of Waterbury under state Freedom of Information laws, the newspaper reported in Friday’s editions.

A January storm knocked the arm off one pole and into the median, prompting state inspections that determined most brackets likely have small cracks that weaken their ability to secure the metal arms, according to the documents.

The state plans to replace all of the brackets in Cheshire and Waterbury within the next two months, DOT spokesman Kevin Nursick said. O & G Industries officials have urged quicker action.

Meanwhile Democratic state legislators are accusing Governor Rell of holding back the complete report on the botched construction of I-84. Also form the Courant:

A group of Democratic leaders demanded Thursday that Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell release an outside audit of the botched Interstate 84 widening project, with one legislator accusing Rell of holding the report until after the legislature adjourns next month.

Lawmakers said they’ve heard from Department of Transportation employees that the report is critical of how the $54 million project was handled.

“I would say she’s sitting on it until we go home on that adjournment date,” said Rep. Stephen Dargan, D-West Haven. “She is sitting on it because there are issues that impact the state. And we’re here as elected officials to deal with those issues. And she as the governor has to deal with those issues too.”

Minutes after receiving a letter from the lawmakers on Thursday, Rell released her own statement saying the audit report is still a draft. Once it is final, she said she’ll provide copies to the legislators.

source: Courant, Contractor: Pieces of I-84 light poles could fall into highway,  Associated Press, May 18, 2007

source: Courant, Associated Press, May 18, 2007