LED lights could soon brighten Main Street

LED lights could soon brighten Main Street
For some West Main Street residents, the future looks a little brighter.

The city's Board of Public Works today was to consider a project that would add dozens of high-quality streetlights along the West Main Street corridor to improve light levels, energy efficiency and safety.

By replacing existing lights with 48 LED units, the city could produce a higher quality of light while using only half the electricity required by older lights, said Herb Berg, design coordinator with the city's streetlight engineering department.

LED lights put out a purer white light than traditional sodium bulbs, improving visibility and safety at night, Berg said.

“Security people love it because you can tell a red shirt from a black shirt,” he said. “Safety should improve significantly. It'll give you that sense of security.” Additional lights at street corners will double the light level at intersections, he said.

Because the project has not yet been put out for bid, Berg would not reveal its exact cost, but he said it would be “well over” the $100,000 range. Funding will come from the Community Economic Development Income Tax.

The project, which would also include the installation of historic light fixtures, is part of an ongoing community development plan to spruce up the Nebraska neighborhood, said Mary Jane Slaton, City Utilities spokeswoman.

Berg said the LED lights are also more durable than traditional bulbs and should last at least 15 years before any noticeable reduction in light output.

“We're hoping for 20 years, maintenance-free” with the project, he said.