Drivers on Billy Graham Parkway in south Charlotte got an unexpected light show last night, and not the fun kind. A stretch of brand-new streetlights started firing off in a rapid, strobe-like flicker that left motorists rattled and squinting as they headed toward Charlotte Douglas International Airport and I-85.
The problem was concentrated along a short, heavily used connector. According to Queen City News, the flashing begins near South Tryon Street and continues for roughly two-tenths of a mile toward Morris Field Drive. QCNews crews spotted Pike Energy workers on-site after drivers raised the alarm that the flicker had been going on for some time. The outlet also noted some fixtures along the same corridor had previously failed in 2022.
City Project Behind the Lamps
These troubled lights are part of a long-planned city project to finally illuminate a key piece of Billy Graham Parkway. The City of Charlotte's Legistar record shows City Council signed off on an estimated $1.8 million payment to Duke Energy to install lighting on about 5.5 miles of the parkway between I-85 and South Tryon Street, with work expected to wrap up by spring 2021.
The legislative file points out that Billy Graham Parkway had been the city's oldest major road without continuous street lighting and that it sits on Charlotte's High Injury Network, a list of corridors with a history of serious crashes. In other words, this was supposed to be a safety upgrade, not a roadside rave.
Health Concerns for Photosensitive People
For most drivers, the flashing was annoying and distracting. For some, it could be dangerous. Strobing lights are a known risk for people with photosensitive epilepsy. The Epilepsy Foundation notes that certain flash rates and large, bright fields of light are the most likely to trigger seizures.
The foundation recommends several quick steps if you are exposed to intense flashing: move away from the light source, close one eye or turn away, and seek emergency care if a seizure occurs. Anyone who starts to feel off or experiences seizure-like symptoms after exposure is urged to call 911.
Who Is Responsible - and What Utilities Say
When questions started flying about who should fix the mess, City Council safety-committee members pointed Queen City News to the Charlotte Department of Transportation. CDOT, in turn, identified Duke Energy as the entity responsible for maintaining and repairing the parkway lighting, according to the outlet.
In a statement to Queen City News, Duke Energy said, "we are evaluating the issue and have crews actively working to determine the best restoration plan" and added that the company would share updates as soon as they are available.
Crews were already on scene when reporters arrived, but officials and the utility say the root cause is still under review. Until permanent repairs are in place, drivers are urged to be extra cautious through the stretch and to avoid staring directly into the flashing lights.
Residents can report outages or check on restoration progress through Duke Energy's outage page. And if anyone experiences seizure-like symptoms after driving through the area, authorities say to call 911 immediately.
