Centre Street Bridge gets lighting upgrade
Calgarians are about to see one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks in a whole new light,
Starting on Monday, city crews will replace lighting on the Centre Street Bridge with a Light Emitting Diode (LED) system that will accentuate the four lion pavilions and the bridge’s archways and architectural features.
“The improved lighting will highlight the features of the lions and provide lighting to the interiors of the archways. These improvements will create a bright and welcoming gateway at each end of the bridge for Calgarians and their visitors,” said senior city architect, David Down in a release Thursday.
Officials say the new system will be more cost effective, reducing maintenance costs and energy consumption, and area Alderman Druh Farrell said benefits from improved lighting go beyond esthetics.
“Lighting is incredibly important,” said Farrell. “We can use lighting to make it more welcoming, more interesting, create safety as well as make it more attractive.”
Farrell points to improve- ments to lighting on the Lagevin bridge in 2010 that had some unexpected benefits.
“It lowered crime, and that wasn’t the intent but it helped transform the area,” Farrell said.
The work will result in some lane restrictions.
The city will also alternate sidewalk closures beginning with the west side of the bridge for the first few weeks, before switching to the east side until the project is complete.
The project is expected to be completed this summer.