Published: June 18, 2008 10:59 pm      

Project lights the way on Ohio River road

Russell — Motorists driving on Ky. 244 the last few weeks may have noticed a significant difference from previous trips down the road.

Namely, it’s no longer pitch black.

The city of Russell, in cooperation with American Electric Power, recently installed street lights along the stretch of the road that parallels the Ohio River to Worthington.

It’s been a project that stretched over about five years because the city didn’t get the coal severance money it had anticipated using to pay for it, said Mayor William Hopkins.

However, AEP decided to relocate a power line to the highway right of way, which made it possible to place the lights on the AEP poles.

Otherwise, to install the lights the city would have had to pay for installation of the poles as well.

Either way, AEP does the work. The savings comes from a lower monthly tariff payment to the power company, said AEP spokeswoman Delinda Borden.

The lighting makes a significant safety difference on the road, Hopkins said. Motorists who have car trouble will be in less danger if they have to pull over and step out of their vehicles, for one thing.

“The difference is unbelievable. Some people will even walk at night now,” he said.

MIKE JAMES can be reached at mjames@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2652.