Proposal for lights on state Route 57 unveiled

For months, there have been concerns on the proper number of street lights on state Route 57 in Elyria and Mayor Holly Brinda has proposed a plan to City Council on Feb. 20 to help fix the issue.

Brinda said the darkness of the heavily traveled route needs to be addressed.

After speaking with the City Engineer Tim Ujvari and the initial designer of the high-wattage lights that were installed in 2008, Brinda said she wants to move forward with replacing all lights with brighter LED bulbs.

The plan also is to remove every other light pole in the median, she said. All double light poles can be left, she said.

The problem of cars continually hitting poles and knocking them down has become larger, Brinda said.

State Route 57 runs south from Lorain with Lorain Boulevard then travels east and south with routes 113, 20, and 301 to Chestnut Ridge Road and out of the city.

Brinda said most of the light poles taken down are near the Chestnut Commons area and up North Abbe Road.

Replacing those light poles is expensive, she said.

The current lights are less than efficient and Brinda said she is not sure they are bright enough for the project, adding the LED lights are bright enough.

Brinda said she hopes to have a plan in the next couple of weeks.

Poles removed by the city for the project will be saved and replaced with LED bulbs, she said.

If a pole is knocked down again, it can be replaced with an efficient pole, city officials said.

Brinda said she believes this will be a better investment.

“We are just trying to look at a more long-term solution to the problem, because it is a problem,” she said. “I don’t think we can do nothing, anymore.”

With a third of lights burned out or knocked down, the mayor said she is concerned more could come.

Sharing thoughts on the proposal to Safety Service Director Mary Siwierka in August 2017, Communications Department Senior Manager Larry Showalter said he is trying to eliminate the process of having to change the original light bulbs on the bypass every two years.

Showalter said the LED lights will save energy and will provide more safety for city staff by their not needing to change the LED bulbs for up to 20 years.

Brinda said the consultants who did the initial design have been asked to look at the proposal now to see if it’s practical.

Sixth Ward Councilwoman Donna Mitchell wondered if moving forward with more expensive lights would lessen the issue. Mitchell said she believes the problem should be fixed, but she is questioning replacing the current lights with LED bulbs to possibly get knocked down again.

Brinda said she is unsure if there is another option to solve the issue. The light poles are not under Ohio Edison regulation and are owned and operated by the city, she said. Therefore, Ohio Edison will not take over the lights.

“To replace all the lights, it would be cost prohibitive,” she said. “It is the compromise position. It’s not an ideal one, but we think it’s going to be better than what we have.”

Ujvari said it’s the best option they have.

He said he is planning to hear back from initial designer Feb. 21 and hopes to have a response by next week if they can move forward with it.

In terms of cost, details will be made after speaking with the designer, Brinda said.

In an estimate, she said she believes the project can be done between $200,000 and $250,000.

Possible grants toward the lights also will be in discussion between Ujvari and the designer, Brinda said.

“(We’re) hoping the design is going to one day, will eliminate at least 50 percent of accidents,” Ujvari said.

With the improved lighting, he said he believes the state route will be safer for drivers.