New manhole cover bolted down where teacher died in freak accident

[TexasProgresive]

2. I read 3 articles on this hoping for an answer.

I am retired from Verizon and have lifted a lot of manhole lids. I can't imagine one flying through a windshield. One thing stands out to me is manhole access on high speed roadways. I can't remember ever seeing on in Texas. We had manhole runs on secondary streets with a speed limit of 30-35 MPH. Runs along primary roads and limited access the manholes ran along the right away and not in the roadway proper.

Since this manhole was in the route to a tunnel I guess there is no choice but to have it in the roadway, but it should be secured by more then gravity. Perhaps a heavy vehicle caught the edge of the cover disloging it slightly and the SUV that changed lanes over it flipped it like a tiddly-wink directly into to Ms. Clavette's windshield.

What do maintenance crews have to do to safely open one of those manholes on such a busy road? I'm glad it's not me. I can remember being on a ladder with my back to the flow of traffic that was scary enough.