Q: Why are so many freeway lights out on the 91 and 55 freeways? As a senior citizen, after 5 p.m. I am forced to put on my bright lights to see the freeway signs.
– Virginia Zlaket, Anaheim Hills
A: Those outages are likely tied to a tiresome problem – thieves.
For perhaps decades, such riffraff have snipped out copper wiring to sell, and in recent years freeway lights – and us, of course – have been victims.
“Many street-light outages on the highways are due to copper wire theft,” Nathan Abler, a Caltrans spokesman, told Honk in an email. “Caltrans electrical maintenance crews are aware and are working to resolve these outages.
“When repairs are made, Caltrans also installs deterrents to prevent future theft, which include disguising pull-box facilities, installing theft-deterrent pull-box covers, and using aluminum conductors (which have less value to thieves),” he said.
“Caltrans is also investigating new methods for deterring copper-wire theft and communicating with utility companies, railroads and other states to identify best practices for fighting theft.”
The public, Abler said, can give Caltrans a heads-up about darkened lights via csr.dot.ca.gov, and he encouraged people to give the California Highway Patrol or another appropriate police agency a jingle as well.
Q: Dear Honk: The surface of the 5 Freeway from Avery Parkway to Ortega Highway, both north and south, is the roughest road surface in Orange County. Is Caltrans aware of how rough it is, and are there plans to fix the problem?
– Bob Herrmann, Rancho Mission Viejo
A: Yes, improvements are on the way – and for a longer stretch than you mentioned.
But, Bob, let’s just say there will be more than a couple of editions of Honk to gobble up before smoothness arrives.
The asphalt out there will be rehabilitated, and some concrete replaced and ground down.
If weather and other stuff goes well, the work from the 405 Freeway to just north of Ortega will begin in late 2025 and take two years to complete. In spring 2026, the march will continue south to the San Diego County line, with that stretch taking an estimated 18 months to complete.
The draining system will be improved, too, Abler said, and so will the lighting (stay away, thieves) and overhead signs.
HONKIN’ FACT: The black, leather motorcycle jacket that Olivia Newton-John wore in 1978’s “Grease” movie, as Sandy Olsson, sold last month for $476,000 in an auction held by Julien’s Auctions and Turner Classic Movies. The sale benefited the late singer’s foundation, which supports research into plant medicine for cancer. In 2019, the jacket was sold for $243,200 in a charity auction – and the buyer gave it back to her (Sources: Julien’s and CNN).
To ask Honk questions, reach him at honk@ocregister.com. He only answers those that are published. To see Honk online: ocregister.com/tag/honk. To see him on the social media platform X: @OCRegisterHonk