“Prior to this project, Detroit had block after block of darkened city streets, lined by rows of nonworking streetlights,” said Edwin Tatem, principal-in-charge for WSP USA. “At one point, only about 60 percent of the city’s streetlights were in working order.”

The $185 million project called for the replacement of 88,000 obsolete streetlights that were rapidly falling into disrepair, subject to vandalism, or stolen for their copper bases.

“Work crews have replaced tens of thousands of old high-pressure sodium fixtures and their yellowish light with brighter LED lights that use less energy and give off a whiter, cleaner glow,” Tatem said.

WSP served as owner’s engineer for the Detroit Public Lighting Authority and the City of Detroit. The firm also provided design services and construction management services for the project, providing the city with the criteria that would achieve a level of illumination that meets industry standards.

The final light was installed on Dec. 15 as part of a public dedication ceremony held 3 1/2 years after the project began.

“This project gave the city 100 percent of its lights in working order,” Tatem said. “This has made the city safer and has enhanced the quality of life for residents in Detroit.”