The Salina City Commission on Monday approved a $3.1 million contract with Johnson Controls for the installation of new LED lights in downtown Salina along Santa Fe Avenue from Elm Street to Prescott Avenue as well as other strategic areas including much of Seventh and Fifth streets.

The lights are expected to be installed by Nov. 23.

A contract with Johnson Controls guarantees that over a period of 30 years, the project will pay for itself because of money saved in electricity and operational costs as well as the fact that the city will no longer need to rent light poles from Westar Energy.