LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — If you’ve driven on Louisville’s interstates at night lately, you’ve probably noticed something missing — lights.
Video captured by WDRB web producer Paige Thompson shows miles of pitch-black highway during her nightly commute. The only stretch illuminated is where the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) installed solar-powered lights about a year ago.
A Costly Problem That Started in 2020
Copper wire theft wasn’t a major issue along Louisville’s interstates until 2020, but since then, it has become both costly and dangerous.
Just weeks ago, a special copper theft task force announced the arrests of seven people accused of stealing from public and private property. Three suspects are believed to have stolen wire from a TRIMARC traffic sign in 2023.
According to KYTC, thieves often remove protective covers from light poles and access points, returning later to pull out the copper wiring.
In one email obtained by WDRB, a district engineer warned of the growing danger:
“Not only are we losing precious assets, I’m afraid someone will get killed trying to steal wire when it is energized.”
Repairs Hampered by Repeat Thefts
Over the past two years, WDRB has reported on the dark interstate conditions plaguing Louisville. KYTC says repair work continues but remains slow because of repeated theft and damage.
“Some locations cannot yet be energized due to the extent of damage caused by thieves,” a KYTC spokesperson said. “We are currently evaluating the solar-powered lighting we installed at select interchanges.”
Miles of Darkness Across the City
WDRB photojournalist Zebonique Petties captured video along Interstate 64 eastbound from downtown Louisville, showing nearly total darkness except for a few repaired lights near the Cochran Hill Tunnel. Inside the tunnel, LED lights installed four years ago still work — but once drivers exit, the highway fades into black for miles.
The problem extends beyond I-64. WDRB producer Kelaiah King filmed a similar scene driving from I-64 onto I-264, showing long, unlit stretches of road.
Funding Limits and Ongoing Challenges
In a statement to WDRB last year, KYTC acknowledged that limited funding and persistent thefts have made full restoration difficult.
“With limited funding available, we are focused on maintaining lighting systems where possible until a solution can be found to combat the continual theft of copper wire.”
For now, that solution hasn’t been found — and Louisville drivers remain left in the dark, navigating miles of unsafe, unlit interstate every night.
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