Maricopa’s newest glow-up came with a six-figure price tag.
The programmable LED lighting system installed earlier this month on Mercado Street and Edwards Avenue cost $382,794, according to documents provided by the City of Maricopa. The total includes installation of the lighting system, electrical infrastructure and traffic control as part of the $1.136 million Edwards Avenue Underpass capital improvement project.
According to the proposal, the work totaled $144,155 for the Edwards Avenue side and $238,639 for the lighting on Mercado Street, including $12,500 for traffic control. The project also included underground electrical work, conduit, wiring, power service and lighting controls.
Communications and Cultural Services Director Quinn Konold said the city needed additional lighting after extending Edwards Avenue beneath the overpass. Instead of installing a standard lighting system, officials chose programmable LEDs that can illuminate the gateway for holidays, community celebrations and awareness campaigns.
“By investing in a programmable LED system, the city was able to address the lighting requirement while also creating a placemaking feature that adds color, character, and community identity to one of Maricopa’s most recognizable gateways,” Konold said in an email.
The permanent display debuted ahead of Independence Day, lighting the underpass in red, white and blue. City officials said the colors will change throughout the year to mark holidays and other special occasions.
