City May 8, 2009 3:33 PM

Peace Bridge Relighting Event

Peace Bridge Relighting Event
Buffalo Rising
Buffalo Rising 19 1
This Wednesday, May 13th, at 9:45, we'll get to see the results of what we're told was more than a $1 Million effort to relight the Peace Bridge, followed by a 10PM light show.

The Peace Bridge Authority has replaced the old lighting with a new, environmentally friendly led system, and though we'll just have to wait and see, we weren't happy with the first glimpse we got a few weeks back when we just happened to be driving down the I-190 as they were presumably testing the new lights.  

Thinking we were having a freak-out flashback (to our disco days), the bridge was flashing red, white and blue lights.  Our first thought was one of disappointment; we were hoping for something closer to a graceful Arc de Triomphe type lighting, but then we eschew things like the Disney World Parade and generally don't appreciate flashing lights on our Christmas trees, or in our rear view mirror.  We like lights best when they stay still (unless they are fireworks).

Let's hope the bridge stays gently lit most of the time.  Regardless of its Parker truss, the lower part of the bridge is really quite beautiful in our opinion, but as with our feelings about flashing lights, we realize taste is purely subjective.

Gather on the American side at the R. F. Wilson parking lot on Busti Avenue (at Niagara St.).  It's sure to be a thriller.
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"And There was Light!" from Buffalo Rising on May 14, 2009 6:24 PM

Last night the Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority unveiled a dramatic new lighting system for the Peace Bridge. There were no fireworks or a grand display, but there was music synchronized to a light show on the bridge. Whether tac... Read More

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19 Comments Leave a comment
mshafer71
May 8, 2009 5:30 PM
mshafer71

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?...That light show on The Peace Bridge is AMAZING....I witnessed it a couple of weeks ago when they were testing the lights and I was floored...very cool...how cool would it now be to walk the breakwall at night?..very

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SadLlama
May 8, 2009 6:12 PM
SadLlama

I saw them testing this out a few weeks ago as well and would have to agree with mshafer, AMAZING! If we're going to be stuck with the ugly bridge at least do something unique with the lightening.


Hopefully the folks who manage the skyway take notice. Imagine how cool it would be to visit the harbor with the skyway lit up like this. It would change the entire evening landscape!

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queenseyes
May 8, 2009 6:22 PM
queenseyes

Not sure who 'we' are in this post, but to set the record, 'we' is not me and I can't wait to see the finished result this coming week. This is very exciting. I also hope that The Skyway gets hit up with an LED lighting feature.

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mshafer71
May 8, 2009 7:11 PM
mshafer71

p.s., Anyone who uses the word, "eschew", in a sentence should be spanked silly

p.p.s, anyone who writes ps as p.s., should be spanked silly

Please dont mistake your impressive vocabulary retention skills for justified moral authority

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whynot
May 8, 2009 7:29 PM
whynot

I agree that this is spectacular! Who do we need to speak to to get lights for the Skyway? Will Brian Higgins champion this?

We should do Steel Winds next, light up the top of the HSBC Center, add color to the tower at Erie Basin, add lights to the breakwall and the Grand Island bridges. Make Buffalo the City of Light.

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Buffalonian4life
May 8, 2009 7:41 PM
Buffalonian4life

^^^ I agree! Why not!? We are the City of Light. Don't forget to mention the re-lighting of the Rand!!!

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Buffalonian4life
May 8, 2009 7:51 PM
Buffalonian4life

I'd like to see some search lights at HSBC Arena on nights of use, and at the subway tunnel on the northern part of Main Street, not to mention one on top of the Rand Building like it was back in the 1920's, etc...

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sbrof
May 8, 2009 8:47 PM
sbrof

I can't wait! Will be an icon from Riverside to SB... you can see the bridge from everywhere.. and now it will be even cooler!

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Mike S.
May 8, 2009 9:13 PM
Mike S.

I agree with the others. While the testing was taking place a few weeks ago, it was crazy looking with flashling lights etc...

HOWEVER, the LED's are so bright. VERY COOL. I've always liked the original bridge and it will pretty awesome to have it as a showpiece at night.

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sonyactivision
May 9, 2009 3:52 AM
sonyactivision

All of the houses marked for demolition by the PBA should be attractively floodlit as well. Would be a lovely counterpart to the relighted bridge.

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LouisTully
May 9, 2009 1:20 PM
LouisTully

who cares about relighting it. build a new bridge

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Buffalonian4life
May 9, 2009 1:57 PM
Buffalonian4life

Well we can scrap the new bridge idea until the old one comes crumbling down... so in the meantime, why not lighten up the Peace Bridge and make a statement while we can...

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Casetheace SoBo
May 9, 2009 5:51 PM
Casetheace SoBo

I agree! Lets get this done on the skyway also!

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Buffalonian4life
May 9, 2009 6:16 PM
Buffalonian4life

Who exactly has control over the skyway, who can the citizens ask for to demand a new lighting system for the Skyway? What a great boon for the City of Light that would be!!! Just like this LED lighting effect on the Peace Bridge... Would be awesome.

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The Kettle
May 9, 2009 7:25 PM
The Kettle

Im all for lighting the skyway but I would rather see it removed. Thanks again for the waterfront highway Higgy.

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beaster
May 10, 2009 10:00 AM
beaster

To LouisTully and the--built-it-now crowd--when's the last time you saw a back-up on the Peace Bridge? I live within view of the bridge and I saw a back-up maybe early last month. The bridge NEVER has delays! OK, there are occasional summer delays, but you could build three bridges and it would not alleviate that.


Moving trucks to another crossing point will solve the few congestion problems there are...

Also, representatives of the Public Bridge Authority (there is no Peace Bridge Authority),have conceded that there is no reason for a new plaza besides homeland security! Traffic and trade are NOT the issues.

So keep on crowing with the built-it-now mantra and we'll soon enough be able to add the "new" Peace Bridge to the other planning failures for which Buffalo and Western new York are so well known! Shall I list?

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Magnum
May 10, 2009 7:08 PM
Magnum

And to think this whole discussion about lighting up some of Buffalo's architecture with LED lighting started with a reader submission on Buffalorising about a year ago. God bless the Internet and BRO, of coarse. :)

$10 says the skyway gets done only because it makes sense given the $300 million about to be invested under it.

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HeartBuffalo
May 11, 2009 9:04 AM
HeartBuffalo

They were on last night and looked great. I love the new lights!

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Daniel Sack
May 11, 2009 9:57 AM
Daniel Sack

I hope the temptation for tacky flashing light displays will not be too much to resist.


Was there a public hearing about this $1.2 million project, 80% Federal dollars?


I hope the (not so) Public Bridge Authority budget includes money for lawsuits from motorists hit by distracted drivers on the 190.


I think efficient lighting for the bridge is a good idea but selecting a single color to illuminate the wonderful steel structure would be simple, elegant, less costly, and easier to maintain.

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