Drivers complain of trash buildup, no working streetlights on I-64 out of Louisville

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Drivers traveling along Interstate 64 West toward southern Indiana might notice something disheartening right now — most of the highway lights are out, and the shoulder of the interstate is littered with trash.

Merlin Jones-Smalley described the situation bluntly Tuesday.

"It could be cleaner," she said. There is a lot of trash going east and west."

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet paid a contractor nearly $900,000 last year to pick up trash on the interstates around Jefferson County, and $1.2 million the year before. While the roads receive a thorough cleaning during Kentucky Derby season, the rest of the year often leaves motorists facing the grim sight of debris-strewn shoulders.

'It is not a good sight and it doesn't say a good thing about the city," Jones-Smalley said.

According to KYTC's website, the state picks up trash from the interstates three times a year, typically before mowing. Last year, Louisville Metro Government funded five additional clean-ups, bringing the total to eight. In July, a crew was seen not only clearing trash but also cleaning clogged drains — a necessary yet infrequent task. The contractor charges an estimated $1,200 per mile to pick up trash along Interstate 65.

And the issue extends beyond just trash. Many of the highway lights have been out for so long residents forget they ever worked. Last May, a tragic incident underscored the danger of these darkened roads. A man was hit and killed along Interstate 65 near Arthur Street, where the lights had been out for months. His body remained on the roadside for nearly eight hours before a passing driver alerted authorities.

"The highway lights are a danger, and we need that lighting at nighttime because it is a safety issue," Jones-Smalley said.

To combat the persistent problem of copper wire theft — a major factor behind the inoperative lights — Kentucky lawmakers have increased penalties, making the crime a felony. Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg acknowledge that addressing copper thefts is a step toward preventing outages when the wires are reinstalled.

While the efforts to curb theft and improve maintenance continue, the sight of darkened interstates and litter-covered shoulders leaves a lingering impression — a reminder of the work still left to do to ensure safe and clean highways for all drivers.

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