Raleigh was one of the first cities in North Carolina to adopt energy efficient and aesthetically pleasing LED street lights. These street lights offer drivers and pedestrians with plenty of light to enjoy the city after the sun sets. These LED street lights in Raleigh provide a nice white light that closely mimics daylight. While a large majority of the street lights are white, there are a few odd cases where residents find purple or blue LED street lights in Raleigh.

These purple or blue street lights stick out like a sore thumb amongst the many bright street lights that line the roads in Raleigh. Many people are curious why some of the street lights in Raleigh are colored.

Why Are Some of The Street Lights In Raleigh Purple?

When I first saw a purple LED street light in Raleigh I thought that it was some sort of Halloween decoration that had overstayed it’s welcome. As I began noticing more it became clear that there was some sort of issue going on. The first purple street light I noticed was on Six Forks Road near the intersection with Wake Forest Road.

I did some research on the topic and talked to a few people I know who work for the city. It turns out that Raleigh is not the only city that is encountering this problem with some of the street lights. Apparently Charlotte is experiencing this problem on a much larger scale.

So what is the root cause of the purple and blue street lights in Raleigh?

It turns out there is a defect in the lights that causes them to emit the improper wavelength. This results in a purple or blue appearance to the lights. The batch of lights that Duke Energy ordered and installed across Raleigh contained a number of defective units that over time will turn purple.

Duke Energy is in the process of identifying defective street lights in Raleigh and replacing them with lights that offer a normal color of light. If you notice purple street lights around Raleigh rest assured that Duke Energy will have the problem handled.

Comment below if you have seen a purple street light in Raleigh, NC and where you have seen it.