Efforts to thwart thieves from ripping copper wiring out of interstate lights in the Jackson area are making progress. Copper thieves have targeted the area for over a decade, joining a list of targeted cities from Portland, Oregon, to Palm Beach, Florida. Notably, the Jackson area has been the only targeted area in Mississippi. Repair costs have risen above $800,000 with millions on line for theft prevention.
A $2.8 million contract to R&W Electric Company of Collinsville to upgrade lighting and install a theft notification system has just been completed, explained Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) Executive Director Brad White. “We had to totally complete the upgrade to LED lighting before we could switch on the system.” This project covers I-20 lights from State Highway 18 to the stack and north on I-55 to the Rankin County line. MDOT now gets alerted immediately when lights go out. This lets MDOT notify law enforcement for quick reponse, allows MDOT to monitor its non-recording cameras in the area, and alerts repair crews. MDOT said there have been no thefts since the notification system was switched on. The project had faced delays, according to MDOT Commissioner Willie Simmons, because thieves were coming behind installers and stripping out the copper from the fixtures. “As fast as we can work our contractors to put lights up, we are having individuals go out and steal the copper,” he told WLBT in October. Simmons has led efforts to get area law enforcement to respond to thefts and monitor sales to scrap yards.
A $739,000 contract to Garver Engineering to assess and evaluate the central Mississippi highway lighting system will include a plan for additional theft prevention measures on I-55, I-20, and I-220 around Jackson, e.g. eliminating bridge mounts, burying conduits, placing junction boxes out of reach, and adding to the notification system. One report estimated it would take up to $8 million to implement improvements over 11 months. Simmons said while these steps will be costly, keeping the interstate highways in and around Jackson well lit “is important.” White said while there has been some state-to-state communication, the USDOT has not coordinated any national response. While allowing federal funds to be utilized, “they have left it up to the individual states.” Mississippi’s efforts match up with those in other states for the most part. However, Kentucky in the Louisville area has piloted a solar lighting “no wires, no theft” project and Oklahoma in the Tulsa area has invested heavily in surveillance cameras. “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them” – Isaiah 9:2. Crawford is an author and syndicated columnist from Jackson.
10 comments:
"This lets MDOT notify law enforcement for quick response..." - A critical step in this effort is that law enforcement actually responds quickly.
At night when the lights are out and it is raining the stretch of I-55 through Waterworks Curve is dangerous and frightfl with accidents backing up traffic in both directions. This stretch of highway needs to be at the top of the list for ensuring the highway is lighted.
I wonder if there is a way they could cause a thief to be electrocuted when attempting this crime. That would be a powerful disincentive
Third world problems. Jackson is probably one of the few metropolitan areas with a low enough traffic count to even make this feasible for thieves to tackle.
Try this crime in Atlanta, Charlotte, or even Birmingham you would probably be hit by ten cars immediately.
About 3-4 months ago I called the MDOT customer service number to report some lights out on I-55 in the area of the Trace. I was told that it wasn't their problem and to call Entergy. Go figure.
Need to treat these thieves like we treat South American fishermen.
Don't these newfangled cars come with headlights?
In some areas the city is responsible for the lights on the interstate. It depends on the agreement each city has with MSDOT. It may be that Ridgeland is responsible for these lights, but you can always call the Public Works department for the city in question and find out.
Just out of interest, what's the value of a foot of copper wire, or a yard or 300 feet? - On the open market, of course. Something is attracting meth heads like green flies to doo doo.
ALL Municipal Public Works Department telephones go unanswered at 12 minutes before quitting time and light outages are not apparent until dark-30.
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