Narrows Bridge night lights

Tacoma Narrows at night The new Narrows Bridge is a stunning fixture taking shape between here and Gig Harbor. If you haven't been near the area at night, you're in for a real treat. Now that there's so much more night around here than daylight, take a drive from 6th Ave on Jefferson to 17th and back some evening and enjoy the view. I first noticed the construction lit Narrows last year and was surprisingly blown away. It was a real-life icon just dazzling an otherwise dark and foreboding area. Although a big dark sky proponent myself, something like a lit Narrows easily seems to override those sensibilities in favor of the arching grace those lights outline.

An article in today's News Tribune focuses on the hazy organization of a few local folks that want to keep the Narrows lit. The initial and recurring cost may be only one hurdle considering shipping and air traffic, nesting bird, and light pollution concerns. Still, having walked a bit on the old Narrows gazing at the new one, I think a great piece of architecture and engineering deserves to be highlighted.

Poll: Should one or both of the Narrows brides stay lit?

Link to the News Tribune (and here for an article about lighting New York’s Mid-Hudson Bridge)
Previously on KFnet here and here

Comments (6) | To Top

11/13/2006 @ 11:17am

This is a good test of Tacoma and Washington state in general.

Will the bridges be built just to function or will they spend the added .25 of 1 percent cost to make it look nice with lights.

Projects in Tacoma often require that one percent of the budget be allocated to art.

We will see. Congrats to the citizens who are getting involved in the issue.

by Erik

11/15/2006 @ 10:53am

I say light it up baby! And when they remodel the old bridge add lights there also. Make it so they change with the seasons. Like they did when the Seahawks went to the Superbowl. I still say the judges were paid off. But I'll save that for another entry.

by Steve

11/15/2006 @ 9:30pm

i think those lights are to light the construction areas. there are walkways up both sides and those lights seem to be following those paths. also, the lights seem to be worklights, not the type used for beautification.

by dmm

11/15/2006 @ 9:34pm

dmm: They definitely are. I actually heard from the company that supplied the lights wanting copies of some of my shots. Anything put up for appearance would look pretty different. I just think the shape it outlines is stunning. We'll see what happens.

by KevinFreitas

11/23/2006 @ 11:00am

The cost of the lights is so minimal. They need to make sure it happens.

by Jane

11/25/2006 @ 12:01pm

Yes, yes. light up the bridge!

by M. Oday

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Mon. November 13, 2006, 06:49am PST