Bridge getting new look with bulbs
‘M’ to be outlined in color next year
The Hernando DeSoto Bridge leading to the home of the blues could itself be blue soon. Or pink. Or the Memphis Grizzlies’ team colors of blue and gold.
The Downtown Memphis Commission plans to replace all 196 of the aging light bulbs that outline the iconic “M” of the Hernando DeSoto Bridge with new color-optional LED lighting early next year, similar to its plans for lighting the Harahan Bridge.
The city will keep the lights white at first, but eventually could decide to add a splash of color, Public Works Director Robert Knecht said Wednesday.
Who would make the decisions about what colors would be on display is still an open question, he said.
The lighting for the Harahan Bridge is part of the $17.5 million renovation of the bridge, which will be known as Big River Crossing, for pedestrian and bike paths. The grand opening of the bridge, which is north of the Interstate 55 bridge, is set for Oct. 22.
The renovation is part of the $43 million Main Street to Main Street Multi-Modal Connector project in Downtown.
Knecht said the lights for both bridges would normally be white, but the color could change for special events or holidays. A charge for private requests — like team colors — could offset utility costs.
“We’ve talked about a permitting process,” he said. “People can request it, or we only allow it for certain dates. The donors have been very specific about the fact that they won’t want it to be overly used. For the majority of the year, they want it to be very plain, white, classic lighting.”
But an occasional splash of color could boost the city’s attraction to tourists, he added.