Columbia testing new downtown lighting

The city of Columbia is testing new lighting downtown aimed at improving public safety.

As ABC 17 News previously reported, testing started last week after the new light poles were installed the week prior.

According to city spokesman Steve Sapp, the high-intensity LED lights are installed along the north side of Broadway between Tenth and Waugh streets. He said the new lights are dual head with one up high over the street and a second lower over the sidewalk. He also said each light is composed of four-panel high intensity LEDs.

ABC 17 News has been reporting on the project since Nov. 17. The city council approved the plan to replace six street lights on Broadway in January. The lights will get brighter when the bars close in an effort to help disperse crowds and deter crime.

Downtown CID chairman Ben Wade said it’s been a long term project, and the CID has worked tirelessly with the city to get the project in place. He said the city partnered with them because many of the lights already needed to be installed.

“Many of them were already at their age limit and need to be replaced anyway, so in partnering with the CID, we came up with a plan to get the new lighting system,” Wade said. “The CID has made a contribution, but because they are going to replaced anyway, we’re getting an upgrade and we’re also getting the lighting program installed as well.”

Wade also said the lights, which are being installed after a series of shootings over the summer downtown, will “take some of the pressure off the officers because it will help them disperse the crowds without necessarily having the numbers of police necessary to it in a physical manner,”

An official with the Downtown Community Improvement District previously told ABC 17 News that an interested parties meeting will be held after the lights are installed, and the city will then move forward with additional lighting if it sees the project working.

Continue to check ABC 17 News for more on this story.