The City of Gary is kicking off a $3.45 million initiative to upgrade streetlights and enhance public safety.

The Relight the City initiative will bring improvements to streetlights across the community. The project is funded with $3.45 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds. The funding is allocated through an ordinance authored by the Melton administration and approved by the Gary Common Council.

“For over two decades, our residents have raised concerns about the state of our streetlights in Gary,” Mayor Eddie Melton said in a press release. “Today, we’re taking action with our Relight the City Program.”

In March 2024, the city partnered with TWiG Technologies to audit about 2,000 streetlights. The audit identified the lights requiring replacement and LED upgrades and areas with high outage rates. The data, combined with coordination with NIPSCO, helped prioritize repairs and upgrades. Midwestern Electric is the project contractor.

Phase 1 of the project kicked off Jan. 6, at the intersection of Grant Street and Ridge Road. This phase will focus on relighting Broadway, 5th Avenue, 4th Avenue, Grant Street and Ridge Road.

Phase 2, which focuses on residential neighborhoods, will be worked on simultaneously. Crews will replace all non-LED lights.

“Upgrading to energy-efficient LED lighting not only reduces long-term costs but also provides significant environmental benefits,” William Allen, city engineer, said. “LEDs last much longer than compact fluorescent lights, consume less energy and produce less waste.”

Melton said functional streetlights are essential for safety, improving visibility and reducing accidents.

“When streetlights are outdated or malfunctioning, they pose a serious threat to public safety and the overall well-being of our communities,” Melton said. “These upgrades are essential for creating a safer, more secure environment that benefits everyone.”

The Relight the City project is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.