ATLANTA -- "We anticipate having all of those lights restored by June 1."
So said Atlanta Department of Public Works Commissioner Richard Mendoza when approached by 11Alive News earlier this year about the lack of lights on several ramps and interstates.
But on June 12, several spots were still in the dark.
The lights shut off after suffering damage at the hands of copper thieves. The $1.2 million the city of Atlanta budgeted to restore the lights won't be enough to get the job done.
Mayor Kasim Reed's office insists it's still a priority. Work continues, but unforeseen costs have delayed completion. At one point, crews restored the lights on the ramps connecting Interstate 85 and Georgia 400, only to have thieves steal the wire again, sending drivers back into the dark.
