NEWPORT BEACH : Lido Isle Lighting Job Nearly Finished

Residents of Lido Isle who have complained about noise and inconvenience from a major construction project to install new street lights were told by city officials recently that the work would be done within three weeks.

Public Works Director Benjamin J. Nolan acknowledged that the project is far behind schedule and that the residents have a “legitimate gripe” about the truck noise, traffic jams and carved-up roads they have put up with for several months.

“Much to everyone’s surprise, I have good news,” Nolan said during a City Council meeting last week. He estimated that the work being done by the Raymore Co. should be finished in two to three weeks.

“It’s been many months and it’s behind schedule,” he said. “It’s such a large project. It’s all over the island. The work is so extensive. It’s resulted in a fair amount of inconvenience and mess.”

There has been no official explanation for the delays.

The $800,000 project began last fall. It involves the replacement of old, incandescent street lights with high-powered sodium lights that will cast a more yellowish glow and be up to four times more energy efficient.