City of New Orleans, DOTD Announce Substantial Completion of I-10/I-610 Lighting Project

The City of New Orleans and the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) recently announced the substantial completion of the $4.7 million I-10/I-610 interchange lighting project.

The project focused on the installation of modern new high-mast and conventional LED lighting along the I-10 and I-610 corridors in eastern New Orleans to enhance nighttime visibility and reliability at the busy interstate interchange. In total, the project installed 154 LED lights, including 37 standard light poles with 53 lights, 20 high-mast poles with 82 lights, and 19 underpass lights.

The I-10/I-610 interchange is one of the most heavily traveled transportation corridors in New Orleans, carrying approximately 91,000 vehicles per day.

"The completion of the I-10/I-610 lighting project shows what we can achieve when the city and the state work in lockstep," said New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno. "This is a really critical project that fits right in line with our Lights On Initiative here at the City of New Orleans."

The newly installed system replaces an aging lighting system that had reached the end of its service life and suffered repeated damage from extreme weather over time. Specifically, the 2021 impact of Hurricane Ida left extensive damage to interstate lighting throughout the area; this project represents an important step toward restoring lighting at a key interchange serving the city.

“This project is a strong example of DOTD and the city working together to deliver infrastructure improvements that benefit residents and commuters,” said Scott Boyle, DOTD District Engineer Administrator.

The new system uses energy-efficient LED lights and solar sensors that automatically activate lighting when natural ambient light levels drop. The design also incorporates high-mast lighting structures to reduce the likelihood of damage that can lead to service outages and increased maintenance costs.

The project was primarily funded through the federal National Highway Performance Program, with additional support from state and local funding partners. Under a cooperative agreement, DOTD managed the design and construction of the project, and the city of New Orleans will assume ownership and maintenance of the lighting system.