New lights for interstate interchange

New lights for interstate interchange

LEDs will improve visibility, safety on busy roadway

news@theeveningtimes.com

Safety was the buzzword all around as the West Memphis Utilities department announced new LED lighting for the Interstate interchange running through the City. Nighttime safety for the motorists increases with brighter lights that last longer. Worker safety comes with fewer replacement trips onto the freeway. Utilities management listed the work to update the lights starting this year under capital purchasing.

While safety was the number one concern, there is a financial playback too.

Company official illuminated Utilities Commissioners during the December meeting as capital purchasing was recommended.

“We will take the current lighting system on Interstates 55 and 40 through West Memphis and replace them with LED,” said Assistant Utilities Manager Todd Pedersen. “This helps us with our safety. Hopefully we aren’t changing lights on the Interstate for 10 years.”

Commissioner Susan Marshall asked about cost savings. LED lights are known for consuming less energy but the big expense is comes with maintenance trips. Interstate work requires lane closure both ways and each trip to change light bulbs is costly. The pay back come after several years because the City electrical rate is one of the lowest in the State. The recent energy supply agreement between the Utilities and NRG reflected a slight decrease in electricity expense.

“You don’t see the energy in pure energy costs according to the cost benefit analysis,” said Pedersen.

“This is because our energy costs are so low. You see the savings with the costs associated with having to shut down the highway so you can go through there and replace the bulbs. We do that normally twice a year.”

Electrical Superintendent Foster Rash lined out the expenses of changing the night lighting on the Interstate. Currently every light and every photo cell is changed during semi-annual maintenance.

“It runs a little over $3,000 to close two lanes, a lane on each side to work on the lights in the middle of the interstate,” said Rash. “We have to hire a professional company for liability. They have to put up message boards and all that costs a lot.”

“The pay back is seven years because LED lights cost more than HPS,” said Rash. “They have a longer life which cuts back on maintenance trips.”

“The key is the safety aspect of working less often on the Interstate,” said Pedersen.

Other capital outlays on the Utilities budget for next year include a new substation at the Dover control station and a new back yard digger.

“That is the last station that has not been refurbished,” said Pedersen.

“We will tear it to the ground and put new one up and have station batteries there. We will take the breaker from the outside to the inside in a climate controlled building.”

The manufacturer of the back yard sized excavator the utilities owns now is out of business and finding replacement components has become impossible according to Rash. An older one standby for limited duty would be auctioned.

“We can’t get any parts for it and we need pole claws to control the pole as we stand it,” said Rash.

By John Rech