Honolulu, a city in Hawaii, U.S., abruptly scheduled a plan to convert Oahu’s streetlights to LEDs about nine months ago but the lighting installation was delayed, due to contract issues, reported Hawaii News Now.

Recently, the city is moving forward with the project to replace 53,500 sodium lights.

Robert Kroning, director of the city Department of Design and Construction projected the project would cost US $40 million to US $60 million to complete.

The delayed installation of the new streetlights has benefited the city because newer generation LED products provided better performance than the ones they looked into last year, said Kroning.

"Our lights are going to be shielded to prevent the glare. They are very directional," he added.

Due to concerns raised by The American Medical Association over LED streetlights night glare, and blue light emissions that can decrease visual acuity and create road hazards the city will be installing warmer color LED lamps that are dimmable.

"We are requiring a networked control management system of the lights. That will allow us to adjust the lighting at different times of the day," Kroning said.

The conversion project guidelines specified 50% of energy savings for the city, but Kroning believes the energy benefits will actually be closer to 60% to 70%.

The city will be awarding the contract in January 2017 and carry out the works in June that year, said Kroning. The city mayor expects the conversion to be completed by end of 2019.