City of Rexburg installs new street lights for safety

Over the next few months, people who live in Rexburg will start to see new street lights in certain intersections. This comes after several pedestrian accidents in those areas.

The list from the Rexburg Police Department shows 38 areas in need of lights and some BYU-Idaho students agree new lights are needed.

“If I knew that they were adding more lighting I would feel more comfortable walking around at night,” said Mikella Eldredege, a BYU-I student.

“A lot of my friends live on campus and I live far away so I have to walk a lot. The downtown area is good it has a lot of lights, but the other area near Walgreens is very dark,” said David Moncayo, a BYU-I student.

City officials are looking to address student concerns. Right now, they are looking to make it safer by adding new street and pedestrian lights. The city would like to add lights in 38 areas, but they can’t afford to construct all of the areas at the same time. Instead they are focusing on busy intersections near campus like Fifth West and Sixth South, Millhollow Road and Morgan Drive, and Hill Road and Barney Dairy Road.

“Times change and we have to constantly be aware of traffic patterns. A new apartment comes in and there may be more pedestrians and we have to change with that,” said Mayor Richard Woodland.

The mayor also said with the addition of a new Walmart and Maverick gas station, traffic is bound to increase. Woodland said the two intersections will also get more lighting. But city officials also said it is not only about lighting on the roadways, but driver and pedestrian safety.

The new street lighting will cost the city several million dollars. The money will come from the city’s street light fund. A new light has already been installed on Second South and First West. Woodland said the other areas should be completed by the end of 2014.