Edmonton Bridges – To Light Or Not To Light?
Posted by Yoofi Gerard Hagan on Monday, January 14th, 2013 at 4:53pm.Edmonton wants to give its bridges a high-tech face lift, or more accurately, a light lift. The city is considering putting LED bulbs on all bridges to increase their cosmetic appeal and increase visibility. Last October Mayor Stephen Mandel requested that the city’s staff come up with some options. The idea came about after attending a Pencha Kucha forum that outlined how to put strategically placed tiny lights on structures to accent their forms.
The plan is to change the bridges from necessary, though somewhat drab, pieces of architecture to something more esthetically pleasing. The High Level Bridge appears to be the guinea pig in this project. The intent is to light this bridge by the time the 100th anniversary comes around this spring, June 3rd to be exact. The nearby Walterdale Bridge will be close enough to provide an even more spectacular view.
Whether that June 3rd target is achievable is anyone’s guess. Expected cost is anywhere between $400,000 and $2 million. One of the sponsors, Epcor, has promised $200,000 towards the project. Other sponsors are being lined up, rumored to include ATB Financial.
Calgary did a similar light up of its Langevin Bridge. That bridge has over 5,600 LED bulbs that were installed in 2009 at a cost of $370,000. Energy use is negligible, about what it takes to power three typical Alberta homes.
Those wanting to light the High Level Bridge plan on spotlights as well as the LED lights, with a computer program that will change the lighting every so often. The idea is to turn the bridge into a piece of art, notes Gord Cebryk, director of Edmonton’s transportation operations department. Cebryk would also like to see Edmonton’s first bridge, the Low Level Bridge spanning the North Saskatchewan, similarly lit up.
The bridge light up proposal goes to council this coming Monday. Installation and maintenance costs are a prime concern, though some, including Coun. Kim Krushell, believe the lights would enhance the city. But, the $400,000 estimate, the minimum cost, is a bit worrisome.
The plan is to change the bridges from necessary, though somewhat drab, pieces of architecture to something more esthetically pleasing. The High Level Bridge appears to be the guinea pig in this project. The intent is to light this bridge by the time the 100th anniversary comes around this spring, June 3rd to be exact. The nearby Walterdale Bridge will be close enough to provide an even more spectacular view.
Whether that June 3rd target is achievable is anyone’s guess. Expected cost is anywhere between $400,000 and $2 million. One of the sponsors, Epcor, has promised $200,000 towards the project. Other sponsors are being lined up, rumored to include ATB Financial.
Calgary did a similar light up of its Langevin Bridge. That bridge has over 5,600 LED bulbs that were installed in 2009 at a cost of $370,000. Energy use is negligible, about what it takes to power three typical Alberta homes.
Those wanting to light the High Level Bridge plan on spotlights as well as the LED lights, with a computer program that will change the lighting every so often. The idea is to turn the bridge into a piece of art, notes Gord Cebryk, director of Edmonton’s transportation operations department. Cebryk would also like to see Edmonton’s first bridge, the Low Level Bridge spanning the North Saskatchewan, similarly lit up.
The bridge light up proposal goes to council this coming Monday. Installation and maintenance costs are a prime concern, though some, including Coun. Kim Krushell, believe the lights would enhance the city. But, the $400,000 estimate, the minimum cost, is a bit worrisome.
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