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It will be lights out on the International Bridge arches this week in Sault Ste. Marie as a cost-saving lighting replacement project prepares to take a highly visible step forward.
The International Bridge Authority will be replacing the white lights that have illuminated the nighttime sky on top of the bridge’s three curved steel arches for decades.
The electrical circuits feeding the current white arch lights will be turned off beginning today to allow the replacement to proceed.
Between new bridge deck and arch LED systems, the IBA expects a 55 percent reduction in energy usage, which will result in savings of at least $44,000 in energy costs and $30,000 in maintenance costs over the life of the fixtures.
The red, white, and blue array of lights on the U.S. arch and the red and white array on the Canadian arch will represent the colors of each nation’s flag.
The replacement will be complete by mid-August.
