It was a confusing car collision scene on Santa Monica Boulevard this past Sunday evening when one vehicle struck one lamp post yet two lamp posts were on the ground and a row of decorative lanterns were destroyed, leaving debri all over the Boulevard. The accident occurred in West Hollywood’s east side, near Poinsettia Place and Greenacre Avenue, at roughly 7:30 p.m. on January 15, 2023.
The City of West Hollywood sent a warning advisory via their social media platforms to inform the public that traffic was closed in both directions of Santa Monica Boulevard’s east side due to the collision, and that LA County Sheriff and Fire personnel were on the scene.
Photo by Paulo Murillo for WEHO TIMES
Photo by Paulo Murillo for WEHO TIMES
Photo by Paulo Murillo for WEHO TIMES
Photo by Paulo Murillo for WEHO TIMES
Photo by Paulo Murillo for WEHO TIMESThe vehicle crashed into the city lamp post on the northside of Santa Monica Boulevard, near Greenacre Avenue. A cable with decorative lanterns was attached to the lamp post located across the street near Poinsettia Place. The lamp post pulled the other to the ground. A row of lanterns nearby were not working as of the posting of this piece.
It is not clear what caused the accident at this time. According to a witness, the driver did not appear to be injured after the crash.
The installation of the decorative lanterns in the eastside of Santa Monica Boulevard were completed in April of 2022 (one string of lights did not working for several weeks).
The City of West Hollywood contracted St. Nick’s of T&G Global, LLC, the same vendor the city used to install the lanterns in the westside around West Hollywood’s LGBT Rainbow District.
On June 15, 2021, the Engineering Division released a Request for Proposal (RFP) seeking a contractor to furnish and install the eastside lanterns.
On August 19, 2021, proposals were received from the following 2 firms:
1. T&G Global, LLC. ($329,114.00)
2. Pro-Cal Lighting Inc ($529,789.00)
Staff determined that St. Nick’s was the lowest responsive bidder that could meet the project specifications, plus it was the firm that installed the existing lanterns in the city’s LBGT “Rainbow District”.
The city is exploring to install similar lanterns in mid-city by the Fairfax Avenue area.
Maybe consider a company that can keep the lights working. About half are out again on the Westide.