‘Goodbye yellow-glow roads’: LEDs to light Amman streets

AMMAN — Following up on its pledge to “turn Amman into an eco-friendly city”, the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) will install LED lights on streets around the capital, the municipality’s council said on Thursday.

Late last year, the municipality installed several LED lighting units on main roads in the capital, GAM’s director of traffic operations, Mohammad Rahahleh, said.

He added that the project, expected to be implemented within the first half of this year, will cost around JD35.4 million.

The LED units will be installed on the capital’s side-roads, he said, adding that the lights will help improve the environment for residents, as they are energy efficient and more durable.

The units emit almost zero ultraviolet rays and fewer infrared rays, and can operate in hot and cold weather, and are able to run on low-voltage electricity supply, the official noted. 

Rahahleh said the project will enhance the service on roads.

He told The Jordan Times GAM’s electricity bill will be reduced by almost half with the implementation of the technology,   which complies with the Kingdom’s pivot towards renewable energy.

According to a source at the municipality, around 150,000 LED lights will replace more than 118,600 existing street lights. 

Often, non-LED street lighting is produced by sodium-vapour lamps, which give off a distinctive yellow glow. Sources at GAM previously said new lights will also be installed on inter-governorate roads as a joint project of the Public Works Ministry, the Energy Ministry and the municipality.

GAM officials said the plan had been implemented on the capital’s main streets, including Zahran, Al Shaab , Queen Noor, King Abdullah I, Hijaz and Queen Alia streets, in addition to some parts of Abdali and Marka areas.