Residents of Hoover, Alabama, who travel the I‑65 and I‑459 corridors after dark have been navigating stretches of unlit roadway. In early September, city staff documented dozens of streetlights out on both the southbound and northbound sides of I‑65, as well as on I‑459 between the I‑65 interchange and Galleria Boulevard.
City staff detail the scope of the problem
John Anthony, Hoover’s traffic engineer, and Eddie Pickett, the senior traffic signal technician, explained that the city monitors outages and dispatches repairs when a problem is confirmed as Hoover’s responsibility. Their records show 23 southbound lights out between Alford Avenue and U.S. 31, three more between U.S. 31 and I‑459, and ten between I‑459 and Valleydale Road. On the northbound side, eight lights were out between Valleydale and I‑459, five between I‑459 and U.S. 31, and 21 between U.S. 31 and Alford Avenue. On I‑459, 24 lights were out between I‑65 and Galleria Boulevard, and no poles exist south of Galleria Boulevard except at the bottom of the John Hawkins Parkway exit ramps.
Jurisdictional complexity adds to the challenge
Vestavia Hills officials confirmed that their city shares responsibility for some lights on I‑65 between I‑459 and Alford Avenue, while Hoover maintains the majority of the southbound fixtures in that segment. Lori Beth Kearley, Vestavia Hills’ public services director, emphasized that the issue is more than simple bulb replacements. “Poles can be knocked down, wiring can fail, fuses or ballasts may burn out, and power sources can falter,” she said. The aging lighting infrastructure further complicates repairs.
Jeff Downes, Vestavia Hills’ city manager, noted that the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) transferred maintenance of interstate lighting to the municipalities that own the poles years ago. This hand‑off created a patchwork of responsibility that can be difficult to untangle, especially where municipal boundaries intersect the highways.
Regional cooperation is underway
ALDOT’s east‑central regional communications coordinator, Jon Paepcke, confirmed that many of the lights were added decades after the original system was built, often at the request of local governments. “Cities accepted long‑term maintenance responsibilities when they asked for these improvements – a common, deliberate practice nationwide,” the agency statement read.
To address the fragmented system, Alabama Power has agreed to conduct an independent inventory of all interstate light poles in the Birmingham metro area. Downes said the utility’s expertise will help each jurisdiction pinpoint which poles they own and coordinate repairs more efficiently.
City actions and next steps
When a malfunction is reported, Pickett notifies Anthony, who then contracts Stone and Sons Electrical to replace bulbs or perform other needed repairs. Anthony affirmed that once the inventory clarifies ownership, Hoover will move quickly to replace any out‑of‑service fixtures.
Both Hoover and Vestavia Hills have begun their own pole inventories. Downes reported that Vestavia Hills identified fewer than ten poles as its responsibility, underscoring the need for a shared database.
In addition to routine bulb replacements, the cities are addressing larger issues such as high‑mast interchange lighting and power loss to junction boxes that feed strings of poles. Pickett indicated that a lack of power to these contactors has left many lights dark, and crews are working to restore service.
Impact on commuters
The lighting gaps affect drivers traveling between Hoover, Vestavia Hills, Birmingham and surrounding unincorporated Jefferson County. With over 30 lights out on I‑65 between Alford Avenue and downtown Birmingham and more than 100 poles dark on I‑459 between U.S. 280 and Grants Mill Road, nighttime visibility has been a safety concern for residents.
City officials stress that resolving the issue requires clear communication about responsibility, coordinated repairs, and adequate funding. Alabama Power’s upcoming inventory is expected to provide the data needed for each municipality to allocate resources effectively.
Looking ahead
Hoover, Vestavia Hills, ALDOT and Alabama Power are committed to a collaborative approach that will restore reliable lighting to the interstates. By clarifying ownership, prioritizing repairs, and sharing resources, the region aims to ensure safer travel for all motorists after dark.
Original reporting: Hoover Sun — read the source article.
