LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — The wires have been gone from the light poles on Interstate 64 in the Portland neighborhood for so long that the people who live there have forgotten there were even any lights.
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) said they are making repairs, but those repairs are hard to find.
“It is dark it is completely dark, I can't even walk back here at night,” Sheila Ceay, who lives in Portland, said.
Ceay said she can't remember the last time lights on Interstate 64 were working.
“But when I'm in my back yard, I can tell it is all dark back here,” said Ceay.
Ceay uses the walkway over Interstate 64 most every night when walking her dog. And every night the walk starts and ends before dark. All the interstate lights near Lannan Park are out. The protective cover guarding the wires is gone, and the wires neatly removed.
Pole after pole is the same thing — protective cover removed and wires missing.
The transportation cabinet said they have installed cameras at various interchanges to help capture the thieves. The camera box installed near Lannan Park is wide open to elements.
Just a mile or so to the east along Interstate 64 near the Lynn Family Stadium, we have found more of the same.
James Stone lives in the Portland neighborhood and hits the interstate early every morning as he heads to work.
“For me, it is going down 64 to 65 and once you get on 65 it kind of lightens up,” Stone said.
According to an email from the transportation cabinet, in August 2022, KYTC announced a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the theft of copper wire from highway lighting, with the reward doubling to $5,000 in February 2023. Additionally, in October 2023, KYTC partnered with the Louisville Metro Police Department for a public service announcement to raise awareness and reinforce the reward's availability.
A pilot program to test solar lighting at two Jefferson County interchanges is planned to begin this summer. To deter additional theft, KYTC refrains from disclosing exact interchange locations of recent repairs, along with the planned dates, times, and locations of scheduled repairs.
KYTC urges the public to report any suspicious activity or provide tips to law enforcement to help identify and arrest copper wire thieves responsible for the lighting outages. The public can call 502-330-7506 to access the KYTC tip line.
Stone said he has learned to navigate dark interstates, but he would like to have some lights, just for safety around the interstate.
“For the serenity of everybody else, yeah to make them feel safer,” said Stone.
Related Stories:
- Kentucky officials double reward to catch copper thieves targeting interstate light poles
- KYTC, LMPD asking for public's help in stopping copper thieves in Louisville
- Louisville recycling centers stay alert for stripped copper wire stolen from interstate lights
- Some Louisville interstate lighting out once again as copper wire thefts persist
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