DOT officials trying to stop 9/11 graffiti on bridges, overpasses
Hena Daniels & Maggie Lohmiller
Some graffiti popping up on highways has a lot of people talking, and the state isn’t too happy about how a group of vandals are trying to get their message across.
Eyewitness News explains what it all means and the lengths one state agency is going to cut down on it.
When people drive around central Connecticut, it’s hard to miss some of the graffiti popping up on bridges, overpasses and road signs that says “9-11 Truth,” “W-T-C” and “Building 7.”
All the phrases are scrawled across overpasses on some major highways. The Connecticut Department of Transportation is fed up with graffiti and doesn't have enough resources to keep up with it.
"It's finite resources," said Kevin Nursick, who is spokesman for the Connecticut DOT. "There are a lot of needs out there. There are limited funds."
And it's the taxpayers picking up the tab to clean it all up.
"I would estimate that annually we spend probably half a million to a million dollars dealing with graffiti," Nursick said.
But what does "9-11 Truth" even mean? And who is climbing up on bridges to do it?
Wayne Coste is a member of a group called the architects and engineers for 9-11 Truth. Coste said he's not sure who the vandals are, but he does know about the message they are trying to spread.
"The official story about what happened doesn't seem to add up," Coste said.
Coste, who is a structural engineer, got involved with the group about three years ago to try to answer his own lingering questions about the science behind the building collapses on 9/11.
As for what the "Building 7" graffiti refers to, Coste said, "Most people don't even know that a third major skyscraper was destroyed on 9/11."
Building 7 wasn't hit by a plane, but collapsed after a fire. People such as Coste contend the science behind that explanation doesn't add up and believe an explosion brought it down.
Coste said he doesn't condone the graffiti, but could see why it would be showing up
"There's somebody that's frustrated that the story isn't getting out," Coste said.
The controversial graffiti can be spotted in places that are pretty tough to reach by the average person.
"The folks that are doing it are using some sort of specialized equipment, repelling harnesses, etc.," Nursick said.
Risky moves by vandals put more than just their own safety at risk.
"They're putting the public at risk. If they fall, if something falls, you have cars below, people below," Nursick said. "And then you're putting our staff at risk because we have to go out there and deal with it."
DOT crews work on cleaning up the graffiti only when pressing issues are resolved.
One thing is certain - the graffiti has people talking and wondering.
"If there's some sort of truth that needs to be revealed, that we haven't seen yet," said Nick D'Amato, of Hartford, "I would be open to that."
"I don't really find a problem with it," said Joe Turnage, of Cromwell.
While others said they are just tired of the mess.
"Whoever's creating this type of environment should really look at the damage," said Hector Rodriguez, of Windsor.
Eyewitness News may not know who is doing it, but DOT officials said they no sooner get it painted over when it pops up again.
"There are places for people to express their opinions and beliefs," Nursick said. "Vandalizing state infrastructure is not one of them."
WFSB 3 Connecticut
Link:
http://www.wfsb.com/story/22902255/dot-officials-trying-to-stop-911-graffiti-on-bridges-overpasses--------OK
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