Twitter, the social media site that people seem to either love or hate, has made people more aware of their surroundings and can be a soundboard for controversy. For some companies, Twitter is used for a large part of their customer service program, responding to complaints within the 160 character limit. Now, it seems, contractors could potentially have a powerful watchdog looking over their shoulder, as long as the tweets land in the right hands.
In Chicago earlier this week, an electrical contractor closed several lanes of traffic, as well as a bike lane, to install some underground lines. Some cyclists, caught by surprise by the work and frustrated by the lack of signage and detours, took to Twitter to voice their displeasure, using the hashtag #bikeChi. The tweets made it all the way to the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT), who, according to Streetsblog Chicago, immediately sent an inspector to the site. Although the contractor had obtained a permit for the work, they did not state that they would be closing lanes of traffic, according to the blog. The inspector quickly shut the site down and ordered all vehicles to leave the site. They could also be facing a fine between $500 and $2,500. The site can be reopened as soon as the company provides the city an approved traffic maintenance plan.
Thanks to tweets, CDOT responds & removes an unpermitted construction blockage on Dearborn. https://t.co/C4MfD4oTjT pic.twitter.com/JJBdxIlWqa
— Streetsblog Chicago (@streetsblogchi) August 23, 2016
Full story: Tweets Spur CDOT to Shut Down Illegal Construction in Dearborn Bike Lane | Streetsblog Chicag
