KEY TAKEAWAYS: $4.7 million lighting upgrade completed at the I-10 and I-610 interchange in New Orleans. Project installed 154 LED lights, including high-mast and underpass lighting. Improvements aim to increase nighttime visibility and safety for about 91,000 daily drivers. Project replaces a ging infrastructure damaged by storms including Hurricane Ida.   The City of New Orleans and the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development announced the substantial completion of a $4.7 million lighting upgrade at the busy Interstate 10 and Interstate 610 interchange, a project aimed at improving nighttime visibility and safety for tens of thousands of daily drivers. City and state officials marked the milestone during a media event at New Orleans City Hall, highlighting the installation of a new energy-efficient LED lighting system along the eastern New Orleans interchange. The project replaces aging infrastructure that had deteriorated over time and sustained significant damage during severe weather events, including Hurricane Ida in 2021. In total, the project installed 154 LED lights along the interchange corridor. The system includes 37 standard light poles with 53 lights, 20 high-mast poles supporting 82 lights, and 19 lights positioned beneath overpasses. Mayor Helena Moreno said the project demonstrates the impact of coordination between state and local agencies and supports the city’s broader effort to improve street and infrastructure lighting. “The completion of the I-10/I-610 lighting project shows what we can achieve when the city and the state work in lockstep,” Moreno said. “This is a really critical project that fits right in line with our Lights On Initiative here at the City of New Orleans.” State transportation officials said the project also reflects ongoing collaboration to improve key transportation infrastructure across the region. “This project is a strong example of DOTD and the city working together to deliver infrastructure improvements that benefit residents and commuters,” said Scott Boyle, DOTD District Engineer Administrator. The upgraded lighting system uses solar sensors that automatically activate when ambient light levels fall, helping ensure consistent illumination throughout the interchange. High-mast lighting structures were also incorporated to reduce the likelihood of storm damage and limit future maintenance disruptions. Local leaders said improved lighting could also help address persistent issues around the interchange, including illegal dumping beneath the elevated roadway. “That lighting is going to help us curtail illegal dumping that has been a big problem under I-10 and 610 for so long,” said Council Member Oliver Thomas, whose district includes the area. “It’s been a while, but we are going to be moving in the right direction to public safety.” The I-10/I-610 interchange is one of the most heavily traveled roadways in the New Orleans area, carrying an estimated 91,000 vehicles daily, according to transportation officials. Funding for the project primarily came through the federal National Highway Performance Program, with additional support from state and local partners. Under a cooperative agreement, DOTD oversaw design and construction, while the City of New Orleans will assume long-term ownership and maintenance of the lighting system. ...read more read less