By Josh Bergeron

josh.bergeron@salisburypost.com

CHINA GROVE — The south end of town may finally see the light with an estimated $7,070 per year investment from town officials.

The China Grove Town Council this week voted to install street lights on U.S. 29 from Bostian Road to Thom Street — a stretch of road where there are no lights. There’s no defined completion date for the project, but China Grove Public Works Director David Ketner estimated six months or more. Town staff estimate the added cost of electricity to be about $590 per month and about $7,070 per year.

China Grove Town Council members previously tossed around the idea of lighting U.S. 29, and made the decision this week by a unanimous count.

Some council members initially preferred lighting Bostian Road to Columbus St., which is roughly half of a mile. It would require $321.30 per month or $3,855.60 per year.

Councilman Rodney Phillips asked why the council wouldn’t choose to light the entire length of U.S. 29 in China Grove, which would require an estimated $18,635 per year. He asked whether the price would make such a project cost-prohibitive.

After some back and forth, Town Council members settled on lighting the stretch of U.S. 29 from Boston Road to Thom Street, which is slightly less than 1 mile. Town staff estimate that stretch of road will require 33 light poles.

U.S. 29 in southern China Grove, however, won’t see the street lights for several months, Ketner said. Town staff will need to work with the N.C. Department of Transportation and Duke Energy to make the project happen, he said.

It will be a slow process, he said.

Asked about the lighting project, Police Chief Andrew Deal said a well-lit U.S. 29 would increase safety for motorists.

“It’s going to be lighting up a high-traffic corridor, and any time you can get more light on the road traffic safety will be better,” Deal said.

The portion of U.S. 29 not included in the China Grove Town Council’s vote this week stretches from Them Street to Liberty Street. It would cost an estimated to cost about $11,570 per year in additional money.

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246