The International Bridge arches will have a whole new nighttime look when the switch is thrown Wednesday evening on an energy efficient and colorful lighting upgrade.
The International Bridge Authority (IBA) has replaced the white lights on top of the bridge’s three curved steel arches with colored light emitting diode (LED) bulbs. The electrical circuits feeding the arch lights have been off for the past few weeks while the bulbs have been changed.
“The new lighting system will give an upgrade to the bridge’s appearance while creating significant long-term energy and maintenance cost savings for the International Bridge,” said IBA General Manager Phil Becker.
The lighting circuit is controlled by at timer, with the new colored arch lights set to come on at 9 p.m. Wednesday.
“We’re encouraging everyone in the sister cities of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan and Ontario, to come down to the waterfront Wednesday to see the bridge’s new look,” Becker said.
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 lighting will follow a pattern similar to the temporary colored lighting strands installed as part of the bridge’s 50th anniversary celebration in 2012.