Laurel flips the switch on new downtown lighting

LAUREL, MS (WDAM) - The city of Laurel has officially brought bright lights back to downtown.

Longtime Laurel businessman Mike Axton threw the switch during a downtown party Thursday night to light up the 500 block of Central Avenue.

This is the first phase of a $20,000 lighting project.

The lights are designed to look like those that lit up the downtown in the 1930s.

"This adds to the perception of safety in a downtown," said Judi Holifield, executive director of Laurel Main Street. "Because the downtown is now lit up, businesses can stay open longer. We'll have some nighttime events that we haven't been able to have before."

Holifield said all phases of the lighting project should be complete by the end of September.

Copyright 2016 WDAM. All rights reserved.