Exposed wires secured at South McCall Road after WINK News steps in

CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. (WINK)— Exposed wires at a busy Charlotte County intersection have been secured after a neighbor brought the issue to WINK Listens.

Lori McCormick watched the mess of wires at the corner of South McCall Road and Coliseum Boulevard for years. She said it had been there at least since Hurricane Ian, and maybe even before.

"It looked actually like a big octopus. All these wires sticking out," McCormick said.

McCormick was nervous the exposed wires could be more than just an eyesore. She worried about the safety of people in her neighborhood who walk or ride bikes in the area.

"Lots of people go there, and a lot of people in my neighborhood walk or ride bikes or whatever, and I just had concerns," McCormick said.

McCormick showed up to WINK Listens in Charlotte County with photos in hand. WINK News reporter Maddie Herron went to check it out.

After a few emails to the county and the technology company Lumen, the messy wire boxes were closed up within days. 

A spokesperson for Lumen wrote in an email: "Thank you for bringing this issue to our attention. The box is now closed."

"Wow. Yeah, they're all closed up, and it looks like they're secure too," McCormick said, after seeing the photos of the closed electrical boxes for the first time.

For McCormick, a little electrical tape from Lumen crews goes a long way in making her neighborhood feel safer.

"I don't see any octopus anymore, and it looks pretty secure," McCormick said. "You know, people would really have to go out of their way to undo that tape. I think, you know, it's rusty and it looks old, but it looks secure."

Our next WINK Listens event will be at Sundial Beach Resort & Spa, 1451 Middle Gulf Drive, Sanibel, on Monday, Sept. 28, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.