Power company says it doesn’t have money to replace broken I-75 lights
Lights are out on a stretch of one of the busiest interstates in metro Atlanta.
Things went dark on Interstate 75 in Cobb County around Delk Road a couple months ago. Police say two men ripped wires out of the lights near the south loop, hoping to recycle the wires for cash. They were later arrested but the wires were never replaced.
Drivers are forced to navigate their way along the stretch of highway in near darkness.
Marietta Power and Water is responsible for the stretch of highway and estimates a cost of nearly $900,000 to make repairs. It is money the company says it does not have.
Another option is to replace the lights with new tamper-proof LED lights, but that comes with a price tag of nearly $3.5 million.
The company says it's working to get a grant to cover the expenses, all while drivers are left in the dark.
Marietta Power says even if it gets that grant from the Atlanta regional commission it might not be available soon.
