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Milwaukee public works calls for a major detour to its streetlight replacement plan
Milwaukee's Department of Public Works calls for a major detour to its plan to replace the city's aging streetlight infrastructure, but the new plan could actually mean brighter lights for more streets.
MILWAUKEE - Milwaukee's Department of Public Works calls for a major detour to its plan to replace the city's aging streetlight infrastructure, but the new plan could actually mean brighter lights for more streets.
"It could be a little brighter because, you know, there’s crime everywhere," Tina Headen told FOX6 News. "If you can’t really see, people aren’t going to say nothing. They’re not bright enough to say that they’re on."
The Milwaukee Common Council and mayor in 2021 and 2022 approved spending $19.5 million in federal COVID relief dollars to fix the 28 worst streetlight circuits. Think of these like Christmas lights: if one dies, the others go out.
The Department of Public Works said these 28 circuits, in places around the city, have "abnormally" high outages, including on the north side near 12th and Capitol.
"It’s like, they’re on for the first couple of seconds and then get the flashing, flickering, and it tends to go out, and it just be dark for the rest of the night," said Tyler Tatumn, who has lived on this block for 20 years.
The city has paid $1.2 million for design and engineering of the circuit replacements and has started buying needed supplies, which the city estimates will be between $7 million and $11 million. However, now there’s an unexpected detour caused by federal money flooding infrastructure projects.
Milwaukee streetlights
"All of the capacity of these trades are being stretched to the limit because the money is literally being pumped into the system faster than the capacity can grow," said Alderman Bob Bauman.
The city looked to outside contractors to replace the circuits. In June, no companies placed bids. In July, the city tried again. The bids were 2.5 times the city's original estimated cost.
DPW talked to contractors who didn't bid to find out why. A DPW memo reveals an answer: "Due to the increased amount of transportation investment occurring due to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, many of the contractors with the experience needed to do this type of electrical work are already at or past their capacity for this year and next, and are unable to take on more work."
Adding to the problem is American Rescue Act money has to be spent by the end of 2026.
Milwaukee streetlights
The DPW is asking the Common Council for a switch. The department now wants to use the remaining circuit money to place LED lights on all light fixtures that can take that kind of light bulb.
"If you go throughout the neighborhood, you’ll see, it’s a big difference," said Bauman. "It’s a whole different feel in terms of the illumination. It’s a different color, and it’s less expensive to operate."
The DPW estimated the LED lights will use up to 50% less electricity and save the city $750,000 every year.
Those with the worst circuits may still be in the dark.
LED streetlights
"We’re sorry. We’re doing the best we can," said Bauman. "We’ll continue to do interim repairs and short-term fixes to the greatest extent possible."
On Thursday, Sept. 7, the Public Works Committee approved the proposed switch, which must also be approved by the full Milwaukee Common Council.