Electric Voltage Looms Precariously Close to DeWitt Clinton Dog Run

Caution tape, neon cones and Con Edison are on the scene in Hell’s Kitchen after unsafe pathway “stray voltage” was determined near the DeWitt Clinton Park dog run.

Neon cones attached with signs reading “WARNING: Possible Electrical Condition, Do Not Enter” existed at the W52nd Street pathway in between 11th and 12th Avenue, near the DeWitt Clinton Park public dog run. A Con Ed professional who becomes part of the 24/7 group who have actually been safeguarding the location for over a week informed W42ST that the obstructed pavement locations held the danger of over 5 volts of contact electrical existing, possibly originating from lines going to the neighboring Manhattan Cruise Terminal.

W42ST connected to a Con Ed representative for additional information on the main reason for the contact voltage and were informed: “We are guarding the area, pending repairs. Contact voltage occurs when the insulation on an underground cable is frayed and the current is making its way (via conductive surfaces and equipment) to street level.”

The Con Ed professional on the scene included that when locations are identified to have more than 5 volts of contact electrical existing, a safety agent is needed to stay onsite to avoid pedestrians from unintentionally going into.

The preventative measure becomes part of a series of actions taken after the death of New Yorker Jodie Lane in 2004. Lane, a 30-year old psychology trainee, unconsciously stepped onto an amazed location of E11th Street while walking her 2 dogs and was killed by “stray voltage” brought on by the electrical current’s interaction with snow and salt. Lane’s family sued the City of New York, settling for $7.2 million and developing the Jodie Lane Public Safety Foundation as a way of promoting for increased policies around possibly fatal pathway voltage.

In the years considering that Lane’s death, Con Ed has increased regular testing of all potentially electrified elements — manholes, street lights, and metal panels — along with recognized brand-new tracking and repair work treatments to avoid public interaction with dangerous surface areas.

In a West Side Rag article detailing the threats of contact voltage to dogs and their owners, ConEd agent Allan Drury said the company had actually considerably changed their method in the wake of Lane’s death. “We scan our system regularly for contact voltage — and when we find it, we immediately make it safe, even if the voltage is not coming from Con Edison equipment,” he said. “Instances of contact voltage from Con Edison equipment have declined by 90 percent since we began this program in 2004.”

The danger of contact voltage is still present, nevertheless, as shown by a February 2022 event in which Hell’s Kitchen puppy Hudson was shocked by an electrical existing near the Silver Tower dog run. Trainer Tess Marty informed W42ST that she signaled workers at Silver Towers, who acknowledged the location positioned a danger, “but they hadn’t roped it off or anything, and they just let me and my dog walk right over it.”

While care tape and cones might provide New Yorkers a direct, West Side puppy owners might wish to prevent the street at the side of the DeWitt Clinton Park dog run location till the contact voltage danger is fixed.