LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Years of copper theft has prompted the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to replace highway lighting with solar-powered lights.

What You Need To Know

  • KYTC installing solar-powered highway lighting at two Louisville on-ramps
  • Pilot program will assess effectiveness of solar highway lights
  • Copper thieves have been targeting highway light poles
  • Thieves have caused $1 Million in damage to highway lights

Thieves have been targeting high-speed highways around Louisville, stealing copper wiring from light poles. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says since 2020, thefts along Kentucky highways have caused $1 million in damages while creating more dangerous driving conditions.

“So that is really the whole aim of this innovative approach with the solar powered lighting systems. We are hoping to deter theft while also restoring lighting at these interchanges,” Morgan Woodrum of KYTC told Spectrum News Monday.

This week KYTC crews are installing solar powered lighting at two locations, including at the Interstate 64 ramps at 22nd Street in Louisville. KYTC says this stretch of highway has been hit multiple times by thieves. Lights on I-264 West near Bank Street will also be swapped with solar. “

And really, we’ve noticed that the copper wire theft typically happens at interstate interchanges because of its location. It’s more easily accessible by thieves as well as the copper’s high resale value,” Woodrum added.

KYTC reports as many as 1,400 lights have been damaged and left inoperable in Jefferson County and while copper thefts happen on private property, the state’s highway system, particularly in Jefferson County, has increasingly been a target.

“So we really want to remind the public that the Transportation Cabinet is offering a $5,000 reward for any information leading to any arrests for these crimes,” Woodrum said.

Alongside this pilot program, the University of Louisville will conduct a research project assessing the effectiveness of solar powered highway lighting.

Report any information about wire thefts at Kentucky interchanges to the KYTC Office of Inspector General (OIG) Office at 502-330-7506. If your information leads to an arrest and conviction, you may be eligible for the $5,000 reward. Residents and drivers may report dark intersections to the KYTC Traffic Operations Center at 877-FOR-KYTC.

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