About 60 highway lights on I-84 near the I-205 interchange in northeast Portland have gone dark after thieves stripped wiring from a run of light poles, snarling evening traffic and leaving ramp approaches poorly lit. State crews told reporters that work to restore power and safety will start the week of March 9 and is expected to require roughly $200,000 in materials and labor. Motorists in the area are being urged to slow down and watch for crews while repairs are underway.
As reported by KGW, Oregon Department of Transportation inspectors found that thieves pried open electrical junction boxes at the I-84/I-205 interchange and pulled copper wiring from the bases of poles, cutting power to a contiguous stretch of lamps. ODOT crews counted about 60 nonworking streetlights during their assessment and closed several access points to prevent further tampering.
Lighting thefts can have serious consequences
Copper thefts are not just a property-crime problem, they can ripple into public-safety hazards on high-speed ramps and intersections. In December, Portland police said a cut transfer box at an I-205 interchange left signals dark and was a contributing factor in a fatal motorcycle crash, according to KPTV. Regional reporting also shows jurisdictions across the Pacific Northwest have seen a rise in copper-theft incidents that interrupted communications, transit and lighting systems, highlighting how a relatively small scrap-metal grab can cascade into bigger risks, per KIRO.
ODOT will harden fixtures and swap wiring
In a statement to KGW, ODOT spokesperson David House said crews will "harden light pole access points, hole covers and other entry points to make accessing the wire more difficult" and will replace stolen copper with aluminum wiring because it is "much less valuable and attractive to thieves." House told the outlet the repairs and materials would be paid from ODOT's maintenance and operations budget and that crews planned to start the restoration work the week of March 9.
What drivers should know
Good roadway lighting matters for safety. The Portland Bureau of Transportation's Vision Zero program notes that lighting upgrades reduce nighttime crash risk and improve visibility for people walking, biking and driving. PBOT has prioritized visibility projects as part of broader street-safety work, and local officials are asking drivers to slow down, use extra caution at the I-205/I-84 ramps, and report any suspicious activity around light poles to law enforcement.
ODOT said it is coordinating with local police on the investigation and will update travelers if repair schedules change. For now, drivers can expect crews along the shoulder and brief lane shifts as wiring is replaced and fixtures are secured.
