A lighting project worth nearly three quarters of million dollars will soon make travel safer for everyone while welcoming visitors to Collins.
The project, approved by the Collins Board of Aldermen, will improve lighting along U.S. Highway 49 and Mississippi Highway 184, also known as Main Street. The new lights will be LED, which are more energy efficient and often brighter than others forms. LED lighting often lasts longer than traditional lighting, too.
“We’re very excited about it,” Mayor Hope Magee Jones said. “The lighting is just going to light our city up and make it even more visible for our community and bring a lot of exposure for people who are traveling on the highways.”
The lowest bid int he amount of $699,737.10 came in from Webster Electric. A federal grand administered by the Mississippi Department of Transportation will pay for 80 percent of the cost while Collins is responsible for 20 percent.
Director of Public Works Bob Shoemake explained some existing infrastructure will be used.
“The poles that are existing, we’re going to put new arms on them and new LED lights and require them with new underground wiring. That will all be improved greatly,” Shoemake said.
The lighting project should be completed in late 2019.
