Did you all know the new 35W Bridge has a cool lighting scheme?

[MinneapolisMatt]

http://www.startribune.com/local/35090229.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUr

I haven't been over in that part of town in a while, let alone crossing one of the bridges along side of it, but wow...it sure looks beautiful all lit up in the blue lighting:





The comments are mostly positive, although some people are concerned about the amount of energy it could consume.

I kind of view it as a memorial, and think the lighting is quite calming and appropriate.

Anyway, just my two-cents.


Matt


PS, and a little humor: Someone suggested the city should change the lighting color to reflect the terror threat level! HAHAHA!

[dflprincess]

1. Nice picture - did you take it?

I didn't know about this. I'll bet it's even more impressive in person. (I like the humor too)

[MinneapolisMatt]

3. Actually

the pic is from the article linked.

I just *had* to post it though in case people didn't want to visit the Strib. :)

[dflprincess]

4. I must confess, I did not follow the link. (eom)

[jrockford]

2. Haven't seen that either - interesting. nt

[cynthia]

5. didn't realize that it looks like that from below

I've driven over it many times and noticed the blue lights on the wavy pillars at either end of the bridge and thought it looked cool.

I've heard that there is a bike path down there, and though some may think it is a waste of electricity, I think it is important that bike paths have sufficient lighting at night. There are tons of people who commute by bike and at this time of year, it gets dark WAY too early.

Has anyone used the new bike path under the bridge?

[Thegonagle]

9. The West River Parkway bike path is reopened, but there's a new path currently under construction.

It will connect the path to the "Number 9" bridge with S. 2nd Street. It runs in a tunnel under 35W just south of the south abutment. It's a 12-foot wide tunnel created out of "box-culvert" sections. (I'm sure it will have adequate lighting.) It's being built and maintained by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, but it's not open yet. I'm not sure whether there's a firm completion date for the new path yet, but they got the tunnel done in conjunction with the bridge project because the roadway was already ripped up (cheaper to do it now rather than later).

Regarding the existing bike path alongside West River Parkway, that's well-lit by the street lights on the parkway, and by bright white metal-halide lights adjacent to the south abutment. (That's where that StarTribune photo was taken from.)

The colored lights don't contribute to roadway/bike path lighting; they're aimed at the sides of the bridge beams and are for decorative effect only.

[Deja Q]

6. Sweet. I'll head there with my gear and hope I don't get mugged or killed...

:shrug:


I like the beams too. Makes me think of 36-24-36 for some reason...

[Thegonagle]

10. I'm sure you'll be fine. If they haven't removed the barriers on the 10th Ave bridge yet,

be sure to take a walk across the west side of that bridge. I've taken many photos from there during the construction. The temporary chain-link fence might make it difficult to take good pictures with an SLR, but if you have the physical ability, just stand on the wall so you can shoot over the fence.

[Deja Q]

7. Are the lights genuinely cyan (and magenta) or is that due to the film/sensor?

Fluorescent lights often give a green glow; various light sources such as halogen, xenon, et cetera, give off other tones. Cameras have the ability to compensate for that to a certain extent...

[Thegonagle]

8. They're computer-controlled three-color LED fixtures.

With three colors of LED, green, blue, and red, they can create virtually any color.

The computer system can address each fixture individually, which means they can make multi-color effects similar to (but potentially more vivid in color purity than) the lighting system at the top of the Target tower.

I took a walk in the area a few nights before they opened the bridge to traffic and saw them testing the accent lighting. That night, they mostly had it lit up in green, but at one point, they made a multi-colored "wave of light" cruise along the side of the bridge. Since it opened, however, I've only seen it lit up in pure "LED blue," or that cyan-blue color seen above. (They can't seem to decide which shade of blue is more pleasing. I personally like the cyan-blue more than the pure blue.")