MLGW new LED streetlights flickering in Cordova

Nov 19, 2023

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Throughout Shelby County, some are noticing MLGW crews reinstalling new LED lights. It is part of their LED Streetlight Conversion Program.

The Wood Chase neighborhood in Cordova has new lights installed, but they appear to be doing their own thing.

The new LED streetlights are sometimes on and sometimes off.

MLGW said the problem could be a number of issues such as bad, neutral or loose connections. They also said it could be external light sources.

“It’s kind of a light show over here at night,” said Kim Cherry, a Wood Chase HOA Board member. “We’ve had crews come through in the last few days. They’ve been changing out the lights on the top of the light poles.”

Cherry and other residents were looking forward to the new lights.

“Some of them stay on all night long. Some of them flicker on and off randomly it seems. Some of them actually seem to flicker on and off like they’ve been set to some sort of regular time frame. Others don’t seem to come on at all,” said Cherry.

The unusual light has sparked a few rumors amongst neighbors.

“We did have a rumor floating around at one point that these were actually on motion sensors. People were a little freaked out by the idea that it was going to take motion to set the lights off,” said Cherry.

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MLGW said new LED lights are not motion censored. They also said the blinking could be caused by a number of things.

While they determine the problem, residents said they will be patient.

“We certainly understand that it’s going to save the city and thus, us as taxpayers money in the long haul,” said Cherry. “It’s probably going to make it a little less enticing for criminals to go to the areas with the new street lighting.”

Cherry and others are looking on the bright side to get through the dark.

“It’s just one of those things where this, too, shall pass,” said Cherry.

MLGW also said they will be sending a crew to the area to investigate the issue. To date, MLGW has installed more than 28,000 LED lights. They are 36% complete which is 4% more than almost two weeks ago.

Still, Cordova residents are finding out they are not alone in the Mid-South.

“This was something where after the first news story was put up that people reached out and said that South Parkway, McClean, Midtown and Downtown had all had these issues. I don’t think the people have reached out. I think people are frustrated with the 311 system because nothing changes. It’s not just our neighborhood that’s being impacted by these lights being changed out,” said Cordova resident Sarah Hagler.

MLGW was pressed for an update on Friday, July 28 but, as of press time, ABC24 has not received a response.