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May 26, 2023

Kansas City has hundreds of defective purple street lights

The defective lights emit a purplish-blue color The defective lights emit a

The defective lights emit a purplish-blue color

The defective lights emit a purplish-blue color

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The defective lights emit a purplish-blue color

Hundreds of defective street lights are being replaced in Kansas City.

Foreman John Bickel from Black and McDonald said his crew had replaced about 500 of the LED street lights along 71 Highway.

On Thursday, his crew replaced street lights on 39th Street at the 71 Highway overpass.

Not far from that job, another crew was also at work on Doctor Martin Luther King Boulevard near Prospect.

The defective lights emit a purplish-blue color.

Parkway Audio owner Jason Pratt's business is near where some of the defective lights are being replaced.

"Seeing that I’m off of Prospect, it's very important to have good lighting," he said.

Pratt also said he’d had two break-ins in the last year.

About six months ago, he installed a cage around his front door to deter potential burglars.

"Maybe with the new LED lights, maybe I’ll be happier with them," Pratt said.

The replacement of the defective LED street lights comes simultaneously as a major city project.

Over the next several years, Kansas City leaders plan to replace about 90,000 street lights with LEDs.

They say they are more energy-efficient and cost-effective.

The city has posted a map showing where work has been done, where it's being done, and where it will be done.

Electrician Richard Gordon supports the project, which he believes will help Kansas City.

"The draft coming here, then the World Cup coming here, a lot of stuff is going on in Kansas City. It's great to be a part of it," Gordon said.

As for the street light replacement project, because those lights are under warranty, that project is being done at no cost to taxpayers.