If you’ve driven on any Metro Detroit’s major highways recently, you may have spent some time in the dark.
That’s because the region’s highways have been plagued by some recurring power outages.
The outages have hit most major highways in and around the city, especially portions of I-94 and I-96.
In some cases, whole stretches of highway have repeatedly gone completely dark.
Michigan Department of Transportation spokesman Rob Morosi said MDOT has removed some streetlights because they were old and unsound, and lost others to accidents.
But Morosi says the bigger issue is thieves who target transformer cabinets beside the highways, particularly for their copper wire--which can be sold for scrap.
“And we’re seeing an increase in copper theft in and around the metro Detroit area, and most of these lighting outages can be attributed to that theft,” Morosi said.
Morosi says MDOT is trying to fix the problems, but funding is tight and repairs are expensive.
“At this point in time, funding is an issue for this department,” Morosi said. “Infrastructure investment is obviously something we’re keeping a close eye on, and we’re hoping something can be done in Lansing.”
MDOT officials also hope proposed legislation to crack down on scrapyards will help out.
Morosi says it’s difficult to put a price tag on fixing the problem because “it’s such a moving target.”
Nearly all major freeways have been affected, and Morosi estimates as many as 20 percent of the freeway lights around Metro Detroit aren’t working for one reason or another.
