The Watchdog | Let there be light, along with flight, near KCI

The problem

By mid-December, Shawnee resident Thom Toben figures, he had made more than 30 trips during the year from Kansas City International Airport. Plenty of time to notice what isn’t right with the nearby highway system.

“I park at the economy parking lot and leave the lots almost always at night,” he said. “I have noted for not just weeks, but for months and months, that the streetlights along Mexico City Avenue at I-29 are out.”

He named four locations and said that at one spot it would be easy for motorists to go the wrong way on the interstate because an entrance ramp is very close to an exit ramp.

“What can the Dog do to get these streetlights fixed? Thanks for lighting the way if you can.”

The answer

The Missouri Department of Transportation said it fixed the lights just before and after Christmas. A spokesman suggests that motorists call 888-ASK-MODOT (888-275-6636) to report highway lights or signals that aren’t working.

“That helps us respond more quickly,” he said.

All this reminds the Dog of the joke about the Irish setter who was searching under a streetlight for the keys he lost when he tripped coming home from work. A German shepherd stopped to help but, after 15 fruitless minutes, learned that the setter had tripped a half block away. So why, the shepherd asked, are we looking here?

“Because the light’s a lot better.”