Montgomery Interstate Lighting Gets $13.4M Upgrade

Drivers on I-65 and I-85 through Montgomery can expect new LED fixtures and construction zones as Phase One rolls out.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Electric Vehicles

Montgomery Interstate Lighting Gets $13.4M Upgrade

Live Poll

Should your city spend local tax dollars to match federal road-lighting grants?

The City of Montgomery was awarded $13.4 million in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation's Safe Streets and Roads for All program to modernize aging interstate lighting. Phase One of the Interstate Lighting Modernization Initiative will replace 741 obsolete fixtures with 1,062 LED luminaires along Montgomery's interstate corridors.

Why it matters

An engineering assessment found much of the city's interstate lighting is more than 50 years old and past its intended service life, with widespread outages and uneven illumination. Safety data showed 32 fatal or serious-injury crashes along the corridors from 2019 to 2023, and 19 of the 49 corridor crashes reviewed occurred in dark conditions, which is why the city is pursuing the upgrade now.

The $13.4 million grant funds 80% of the $16.75 million Phase One cost, leaving Montgomery a $3.35 million local match. The project covers 7.9 centerline miles and includes 15 construction zones, including the I-65/I-85 interchange.

The players

U.S. Department of Transportation

The federal agency that administers the Safe Streets and Roads for All program, which funded this grant to Montgomery.

City of Montgomery

The Alabama city receiving the $13.4 million grant and responsible for the $3.35 million local match for the lighting project.

The details

The city's engineering assessment identified widespread outages, uneven illumination, and broken lowering mechanisms on high-mast poles. Phase One replaces 741 obsolete fixtures with 1,062 LED luminaires across the corridor. The plans also restore ground-level maintenance access, so crews can service fixtures without working at height, and add wireless outage monitoring to flag failures sooner.

October 30, 2026: The federal Safe Streets and Roads for All grant was announced.
2019 to 2023: The period of corridor crash data reviewed in the city's safety analysis.

The Home Front

Federal Safe Streets and Roads for All funding is directing local dollars toward roadway safety infrastructure rather than general road resurfacing. For Montgomery residents, the 80 percent federal share lowers the local cost of an upgrade that the city's own assessment deemed overdue.

If you commute on I-65 or I-85 through Montgomery, expect lane or ramp changes at the 15 construction zones, including the I-65/I-85 interchange, and plan extra travel time. Drivers who use these corridors after dark should note that many of the crashes studied occurred in low light, so check your headlights and keep your windshield clean.

The takeaway

Aging roadway lighting is a safety issue, not just a utility bill, and this upgrade shows how federal grants can carry much of the cost. If you drive these corridors regularly, watch for official city announcements about the construction schedule so you can plan around the work zones.