Montgomery chosen for $13.4 million grant to upgrade I-65, I-85 lighting

The City of Montgomery received $13,407,200 in federal funding to upgrade lighting that is failing on I-65 and I-85. 

The grant was announced through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Fiscal Year 2026 Safe Streets and Roads for All program. It will fund the first phase of the project, which is a total of $16,759,000.

741 "obsolete" lighting fixtures will be replaced with 1,062 LED luminaires, said a statement from the city. 

The city also seeks to restore safe maintenance access and to introduce wireless outage monitoring in 15 construction areas and 7.9 centerline miles that includes the I-65/I-85 interchange.

“Every resident and visitor traveling through Montgomery deserves roadways that help them get home safely,” said Montgomery Mayor Steven L. Reed. “This $13.4 million federal award is a major step toward replacing aging interstate lighting, improving visibility and giving our crews the tools to maintain these improvements. We are investing in public safety and in the infrastructure that serves as the front door to Alabama’s capital city.”

It is hoped that the project will improve driver visibility on the roads, as well as to reduce crashes and to support safer emergency responses, said the statement.

The project is part of Montgomery's comprehensive interstate lighting modernization plan that was developed with Montgomery-based Garner & Associates Engineering PC.