Henrico installs solar-powered lights to improve pedestrian safety

HENRICO, Va. (WWBT) — Henrico County has completed a pilot project to install solar-powered lights along a busy stretch of Laburnum Avenue in the East End.

Sixty-four LED solar-powered lights now line Laburnum Avenue from Interstate 64 to Williamsburg Road.

The lights are part of a push to improve pedestrian safety in Henrico, using roughly a third of the $1.5 million allocated for road lighting by county supervisors in 2024.

“They’re not connected to the grid, 100% powered from the sun, and they run off of batteries at night,” said Terrell Hughes, director of public works for Henrico.

Hughes said the county is dealing with pedestrian safety challenges.

“When we pulled our data for the last several years, we found out that almost 90% of our fatal pedestrian crashes occur at night time,” Hughes said.

The lights were installed quickly.

GRTC travelers said they support the safety measures.

“Well I think it’s a great idea, especially for someone like myself who travels by the bus,” said Tashira Burruss.

“If it’s going to save lives, that’s money well spent,” said Linda Dawson.

Hughes said his team installed them at a fraction of the cost of traditional road lighting.

“Would have cost a lot more if we had to also trench a conduit to run the cable underground, and then we would have also had to source power and get power connections. By installing it in the median, we didn’t have to get any easements,” Hughes said.

He also said the lights are easier and faster to install and should last 10 to 15 years, with limited maintenance required.

The lights were designed specifically for the area, even during the darkest, shortest days of the year.

“And that’s really your minimum amount of light, your solar energy that you’re providing the lights. So they’ve designed the lights to basically last all night under those conditions,” Hughes said. “So the solar panel gets sized accordingly, as well as the battery. And it’s designed to last.”

Hughes said the county has heard from residents who aren’t sure about the aesthetic.

“You know, people say the lights look weird, or they look different, and really it’s the solar panel,” Hughes said.

The county is also looking at putting solar lights along parts of Broad Street, Staples Mill, Parham Road, Brook Road, and further down Laburnum Avenue closer to the Richmond Raceway.