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City, OG&E plan September start to replace 54 downtown lights as part of franchise project
Summary
City staff and OG&E partner described a downtown street‑lighting replacement for 54 LED fixtures across eight blocks; construction is scheduled to start in early September with completion targeted by early December and accommodations planned for seasonal events.
City staff gave commissioners a project update on replacing aging downtown street lights in partnership with OG&E and its contractor.
Michael, the city project manager assigned to the effort, said the replacement covers 54 new LED fixtures on Randolph, Broadway, Maine, Grand and Independence and will remove 95 existing fixtures in the mapped area. Construction is scheduled to begin in early September and the city hopes to finish by early December. "Once we bring all these things to light and light up our downtown streetscape, it's gonna be very nice," Michael said.
Staff said the new fixtures are taller (about 14 feet) and will use Bristol Type 3 LED luminaires with a powder‑coat finish; OG&E’s light study supported reducing the overall number of posts while still achieving proper illumination. City representatives said the new poles are easier to service than the older “corn‑cob” luminaires and will provide a cooler white light consistent with Main Street’s streetscape goals. Staff expects temporary parking impacts and equipment in the work zones and said the contractor will try to avoid disruptions during the city’s Thanksgiving events.
Commissioners and staff discussed whether orange‑tinted fixtures outside the mapped replacement area are city‑owned or privately owned by adjacent businesses or property owners; staff said the project replaces only lights shown on the project map and that other fixtures will remain until a later funding decision. The city and Main Street will coordinate on any future color/temperature conversions outside the current project footprint.
No council vote was taken; staff said they will issue press releases in August and September and provide further construction‑phase updates to downtown stakeholders.
