The Public Lighting Authority announced it has begun installation of new street lights and circuits on major streets near the downtown area that will result in a temporary period of darkness on those streets, while outdated electrical circuits are replaced with modern circuits.
Since lights in these areas receive electricity through underground wiring, worker safety requires that the electricity be turned off during the period the old outdated circuits and lights are removed and the new circuits and lights are installed. Power to the street lights on the specific streets will be off for approximately two weeks, depending on the condition of the existing circuits and the amount of work required to install the new circuits.
The new street lights will be turned on as soon as the new wiring, lights and circuits are in place. These shutdowns will not affect power to lights on neighborhood streets or to homes and businesses.
The following is the first series of shutdowns of the old lights scheduled to be shutdown until Dec. 24:
- Grand Blvd. – from Woodward Ave. to Mt. Elliott.
- Woodward Ave. – from E Grand Blvd. to Davison Ave.
- Warren – from Woodward Ave. to I-75 service drive
As the PLA continues to rebuild the city’s street lighting grid, it will continue to notify the public of these strategic shutdowns as necessary.
Prior to the Public Lighting Authority, across the city’s 140 square miles, the lighting system has not been operational for decades. To date, the Authority has added more than 58,000 new LED street lights within the last 18 months, which represents more operational street lights in the City of Detroit since 1980.
