LEDs to replace roadway incandescent lights

The Cook County Highway Department has a number of roadway rehabilitation projects under way in suburban communities, primarily consisting of patching or base repair to the existing pavement and a final surface treatment. Projects in the Northwest suburbs are Bartlett Road from Lake Street to Golf Road; Quentin Road from Illinois to Northwest Highway and Mount Prospect Road from Northwest Highway to Busse Road. Starting this year and into 2013, the highway department will replace existing signal equipment with new energy efficient LED modules on all traffic signals. LEDs consume significantly less power than incandescent signals, but are brighter and have a longer life — eight years versus two. The department estimates that 80 percent in energy savings will be realized.