Lights on the water

Palmerston North’s Fitzherbert Bridge by night could become the city’s next picture postcard.

The city council plans to install lighting on the bridge, as well as on the under-construction He Ara Kotahi cycle and pedestrian bridge, and along the riverside shared pathways in between.

It has just approved an extra $1.2 million to ensure lighting for the cycle bridge is included in the design and build. It already has $495,000 in its Manawatu¯ River framework budget for the Fitzherbert Bridge, and $420,000 for the 3.5 kilometres of pathways in between the bridges.

City council leisure assets planner Jason Pilkington said the Fitzherbert Bridge lighting would be a colour-changing ‘‘fiesta’’ and the pathway along the back of Victoria Esplanade would be colourful and playful.

The cycle bridge would be calmer, emitting a warm glow to ensure safety and good looks, and the Massey side of the river would also have subdued lighting in respect for Rangita¯ ne memories of battles on the site.

The council was working with international lighting designer Venky Kannan, now resident in Palmerston North, to create a high-quality outcome.

Pilkington said the extra money for the cycle bridge, half of which would be sought from funds outside the council, was needed to ensure the lighting was an integral part of it, not just an add-on.

He said lighting was planned for on the cycle bridge to ensure it was safe at night, but it called for a better option than just street lights.

After the efforts made to design a bridge in the image of a karaka tree falling across the river, traditional street lighting would have taken away from the effect.

Parts of the bridge design had to be changed so cables could run through handrails, out of sight. The lights themselves would be largely hidden in the posts along its length, emitting a soft glow.

The underside of the bridge would also be illuminated to create an illusion of floating above the river.

The best place to appreciate each bridge would be from the other bridge.

Light trees and down-lit bike parks would also feature on the Dittmer Drive approach to the cycle bridge. ‘‘We expect it will have no more impact on the neighbourhood than a street light, and it will be stunning.

‘‘We’re looking for a result that is powerful, but subtle,’’ Pilkington said