BUFFALO, NY - The state Thruway Authority has spent tens of thousands of dollars on a light replacement project that's currently having some issues.
On the I-190 north between the I-90 and the Skyway, many street lights in the center median are on, but as we drove along, we noticed large stretches of the roadway completely dark.
A 2 On Your Side viewer alerted us to the issue.
So, we contacted the Thruway Authority and a spokesperson told us the lights from South Ogden Street to Smith Street should all be working. Here's why: the Thruway Authority says 100 LED lights have been installed along this stretch since 2014, costing taxpayers $160,000.
But, as we mentioned, many lights are out. We're still waiting for an explanation from the Thruway Authority on why.
The Thruway Authority says it has 200 more lights to replace in the southern portion of the 190 -- many of them along the off and on ramps.
What did we see Friday?
Thruway crews were working on those ramps -- replacing lights with the LEDs. The Thruway says it should take a least another two years to install the rest of the lights, costing taxpayers an additional $320,000.
Total cost of this project: $480,000.
We've also noticed blacked out lights in other spots. At the 190 north by the Peace Bridge, lights are out because of ongoing construction. When that's done, the Thruway says the lights should be back on. In Cheektowaga, at the 33/90 interchange, the town highway department says a couple traffic accidents and guardrail installation work has resulted in outages. Town officials say they're working with the state on this project.
And finally, at the 33 interchange near the 198, several lights are out. National Grid says an underground cable needs to be fixed and the utility company is working on this project.
There have also been lights near Hamburg Street on the 190 that are also not working.
A Thruway spokesperson says: "Those lights are out due to a shortage – our maintenance staff is aware and will be repairing them soon. The LED replacement project is a half mile south of that area at Smith Street. We will get to the Hamburg Street area very soon. When we install the new LED light we will also repair and replace any old wiring and anything else electrical that needs rehabbing," said Shane Mahar, deputy communications director for the Thruway.