If you're heading out this holiday weekend, there may be a little less congestion. The American Automobile Association expects 33.2 million drivers on the road, but if you're among them and hoping to take I-10 near the Orleans and Jefferson Parish line, you could find yourself driving in the dark.

"We've had trouble with the interstate lighting pretty much since Katrina," said Robert Mendoza, New Orleans Public Works Director.

Mendoza says parishes are responsible for maintaining their own set of highway lights and says of the 1,500 in New Orleans, several hundred aren't working.

"Most of the stuff is well over 25 years old, which is well beyond the life of the equipment that's out there," said Mendoza.

Hurricanes Gustav and Ike are being blamed for making an already bad situation even worse.

"It's clear that the system is too susceptible to that kind of damage and it doesn't come back up and so we end up having to go out there and make continuous repair after continuous repair," explained Mendoza.

But the quick fixes don't always last, leaving drivers in the dark and worried about their safety and the well being of others.

"I remember driving with my grandma sometimes and if there were lights coming at her in a dark spot she would be less able to pay attention to what's going on around her, she'd be confused by the lights in that case," said Metairie Resident Brooking Wilson.

At a Christmas tree lot just off of Interstate-10 where the Frasier Furs are already out, the bright lights are very much on. Workers just wonder why it's not the same case for the freeway.

"If there's an accident on the side of the road or somebody is trying to change a flat tire on the side of the road, you don't see them," said Donnie Mcmyne, a Christmas Lot Owner.

But Mendoza argues there are other safety precautions put in place for when the interstate lights aren't working.

"The interstate usually stays well striped. Usually, there's reflectors on the road and your headlights and the reflectors and the striping are more than enough to really to guide you," said Mendoza.

Mendoza says the city's contractor has been on the job for a few weeks and is in the process of completing a long term fix, one that would harden the lighting system and prevent future outages.

"Over the next couple of months we should have everything completely replaced the way it needs to be," said Mendoza.

But for some drivers, the time line puts a permanent solution too far in the distance, they'd prefer to have one already in their rear view mirror.

"I think it's ridiculous," said Covington resident Karen Vogts.  "I think it's too long."