Ameresco has completed a pilot program to replace 8,000 high-pressure sodium outdoor lighting fixtures with light emitting diode (LED) streetlights.
The Oregon Department of Transportation spearheaded the $18.6 million projectd to convert the streetlights to LEDs across the greater Portland area. Contractor Ameresco also upgraded lighting in 13 tunnels within the ODOT Region 1, which includes the Clackamas, Hood River, Multnoham and the Metro interstate bridges.
The new LED streetlights have a color temperature of 3,000 to 4,000 Kelvin and use 50 percent less energy than the traditional highway and tunnel lighting fixtures. The efficiency lighting should reduce carbon emissions by an estimated 3,500 metric tons annually, according to the release.
Ameresco says the new LEDs won’t need to be replaced for another 15-20 years, compared with 2-4 years for the high-pressure lights. ODOT officials are happy they won’t have to worry about that for a while after this pilot project.
“We couldn’t have foreseen all of the challenges but, thanks to Ameresco, we successfully navigated hurdles as they came and the project was delivered in a seamless and smooth manner,” Elizabeth Papadopoulos, ODOT consultant project manager, said in a statement.
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Ameresco worked collaboratively with ODOT to develop a plan that minimized public traffic and safety concerns while adhering to ODOT directed design standards. The Ameresco team also worked in coordination with the major freight stakeholder on the project, Mobility Advisor Committee, to successfully complete the streetlight conversion project within the construction term.
Construction began in May 2020.
