BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBMA) — For more than two years, a stretch of 7th Avenue South beneath Birmingham’s Red Mountain Expressway has been left mostly in the dark — a problem one nearby business owner says has brought safety concerns for customers and repeated pleas for help that still haven’t led to repairs.
After sunset, the underpass area changes as lights that should illuminate the roadway and sidewalks remain out. Mark Cummings, who owns Al’s on 7th, said the lack of lighting has contributed to issues around the business.
“A few more car break-ins, some unhoused living under the bridge would harass my guests. So it just became an issue for me,” Cummings said.
Cummings said the darkness is especially concerning on busy weekend nights.
“There are, you know, hundreds of people who come on Friday and Saturday night. And, so they have to park there and then walk down the sidewalk, a dark sidewalk,” he said.
Cummings has taken his concerns to Birmingham City Hall more than once. During an Aug. 13, 2024, meeting, he told city leaders, “You add the homeless, you add the lights out. We have problems.”
More than two years after the lights went out, Cummings was still asking for action at an October 2026 meeting.
“My costumers without lights are scared to park under those overpasses. There’s a problem,” he said.
City Councilor Hunter Williams said the city wants commercial areas and neighborhoods to be well lit, but he said the issue extends beyond just Birmingham.
“We want to make sure that all of our commercial spaces are well lit, that patrons feel safe, and that it’s inviting for people to come and experience the city of Birmingham, whether it’s a bar, restaurant, retail shop, whatever it is. We also want it well lit for our residents, as well,” Williams said.
Williams said the fix is more complicated than a simple repair. He said some lighting projects require new engineering, wiring and construction, with multiple entities involved.
“A lot of them have to be re-engineered and there’s an actual construction process where it has to be re-bid out. And there’s several partners involved, as well, which obviously slows things down. Anytime you have several different entities, especially governmental entities, that creates delays,” Williams said.
Williams said the city approved funding for the Lakeview lighting project about a year ago. He said the work involves coordination between the city, the Alabama Department of Transportation and Alabama Power.
He also pointed to a previous effort to improve lighting in Birmingham neighborhoods. Williams said the city partnered with Alabama Power through a memorandum of understanding to upgrade residential streetlights to energy-efficient LED bulbs. Under that agreement, Williams said Alabama Power also took over maintenance of the streetlight poles.
Williams said the city has since seen significant improvements, adding that all Birmingham streetlights have been converted to energy-efficient LEDs, which last longer and cost taxpayers less.
He said interstate lighting presents a different challenge, with ongoing maintenance costs often falling to municipalities even when the state initially installs the lights.
“The state deflects all the lighting cost of maintenance back to the municipalities. It is a large lift for the municipalities. Most municipalities don’t have the budget to do so,” Williams said.
Williams said the issue highlights the need for better maintenance plans, not just installing lights in the first place.
“One thing that’s interesting is people assume that the state’s highways are all maintained by the state,” Williams said. “However, they walk away from the maintenance aspect after that.”
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In a statement, ALDOT communications coordinator Jon Paepcke said the Alabama Department of Transportation is working with the city and Alabama Power to restore lighting beneath the Red Mountain Expressway at 7th Avenue South. Paepcke said Alabama Power is revising its application for a required permit.
The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) is coordinating with the City of Birmingham and the Alabama Power Company to help restore lighting underneath Red Mountain Expressway at 7th Avenue South. Currently, Alabama Power is in the process of revising its application for the required permit to upgrade lighting on ALDOT right-of-way.
Alabama Power said it is aware of the lighting concerns and has been working with the city and ALDOT to identify and implement a solution.
Alabama Power is aware of the lighting concerns beneath the 7th Avenue South underpass and has been working closely with the City of Birmingham and the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) to identify and implement a solution.
While the existing lights at this location are maintained by the City of Birmingham, Alabama Power has partnered with local and state stakeholders on the permitting process to improve lighting in the area.
Because of the underpass’s proximity to bridge structures and existing transportation infrastructure, coordination with ALDOT is required before work can begin. Alabama Power anticipates installing six new streetlights to enhance visibility and safety in the area. Materials are available, and construction can be scheduled as soon as the permitting process is finalized.
Cummings said the delays have been frustrating.
“The problem is, it’s just taking forever to get all the red tape worked through,” he said.
In the meantime, he said, the safety concerns remain outside his business.
“I need my customers safe. I keep them safe when they’re inside the four walls of my business and I need some help keeping them safe outside of my business,” Cummings said.