A survey conducted by a Tulsa newspaper has found that nearly half of the highways maintained by Oklahoma's second largest city are unlit.
The Tulsa World reports a survey it conducted of Tulsa-maintained highways found that about 44 percent were dark in spite of a recent announcement by city officials that efforts to repair damaged highway lights were 85 percent complete.
The city takes issue with the newspaper report. In a statement the city of Tulsa said:
" The Tulsa World survey did not reflect a true comparison of our highway light system nor was it up to date. The City of Tulsa has undergone a massive highway lighting reconstruction of our system and we are 85% complete with those repairs."
In a separate statement, Mayor G.T. Bynum says the priority, or "job number one" in restoring highway lighting is replacing electrical infrastructure stolen by thieves.
City officials say roadway lighting can reduce night-time crashes by about 30 percent.