East Span Lighting

LIGHTING THE EAST SPAN

The new East Span features a cutting-edge lighting system that was designed and fabricated specifically for the Bay Bridge. High-performance LED lights spread a bright, uniform glow across the roadway. The fixtures are positioned to project light in the direction of travel, much like headlights on a car, thereby protecting motorists from glare. While the quality and distribution of light on the road will create a safer driving experience for motorists, the longevity of the lighting system will also increase safety of maintenance workers.

The state-of-the-art lights use half the energy of standard lights but will last five to seven times longer. Lights will only need to be replaced every 10 to 15 years, so crews will spend less time working beside traffic during maintenance operations and fewer lane closures will be required to provide the access.

The light standards, or poles, were designed by Moffat & Nichol and fabricated by Nebraska-based Valmont Industries, which has fabricated light poles for the Panama Canal and the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART). Custom-made light fixtures were designed and fabricated by Iowa-based Musco Sports Lighting, which developed lighting systems for Yankee Stadium and the White House. The original lighting design was conceived by Howard Brandston, then later developed to LEDs by Caltrans, Zoon Engineering and Parsons Brinckerhoff, and installed by Bleyco Inc.

The East Span lighting system includes more than 48,000 individual LEDs. Using a large number of individual LEDs, with individual optic control, allows for greater control over the direction of the light, creating the ability to place more light where it is needed and remove light from where it is not. The design of the light fixtures gives more control over the direction of each bulb and the overall light that is produced, which means that light pollution is reduced almost completely. Lighting on the westbound deck will not spill over to the eastbound deck and vice versa. This creates a much safer driving experience for motorists. Each fixture is adjustable and will be set into a position that faces away from oncoming traffic and focuses light directly onto the roadway. This makes for a better lit road and protects oncoming motorists from glare, which increases safety.

LED lights only need to be changed every 10-15 years, a vast improvement over the fixtures on the original East Span, which had to be changed about every two years. A longer life span means more money saved by not having to buy as many bulbs or to spend funds on lane closures and maintenance staff.

Not only do the LEDs save money, they also save energy and do not use mercury.

The lighting system is as aesthetically pleasing as it is functional. The poles and fixtures were designed by collaborative teams including Caltrans engineers and architects to create poles that reflect the look of the Self-Anchored Suspension Span’s single tower, with faceted corners on each pentagonal standard and a wide base that tapers as it rises. This connects the various spans of the bridge with a look of balance and uniformity.

THE LIGHTS AT A GLANCE

There are 273 light poles on the East Span
Light poles were designed and fabricated by Valmont Industries, based in Valley, Neb.
Poles were designed to visually reflect the aesthetics of the Self-Anchored Suspension Span’s faceted main tower
Light poles range from 23 to 65 feet in height
Poles vary in weight from 2,500 to 7,500 pounds
The East Span will have a total of 1,521 light fixtures
400 light fixtures on the Self-Anchored Suspension Span's main cable
1,121 light fixtures along the roadways
The light fixtures were designed and fabricated by Musco Sports Lighting, based in Oskaloosa, Iowa
Placement of fixtures and light bulbs create an even wash of white light across the roadway to provide safer driving conditions and protect motorists from glare
Each light fixture houses 25 to 50 light-emitting diodes (LEDs), for a total of more than 48,000 LEDs in this lighting system
The LED lights on the new East Span will use about 50 percent less energy than the lights on the existing bridge
The LEDs will be replaced when they dim to 70 percent light production, which will take 10 to 15 years; fixtures on the current East Span burn out in about two years