The Great River Bridge in Burlington will soon have a new glow about it.
The single-tower cabled bridge opened in 1993 and its lights have dimmed over the years.
“Unfortunately, the lights throughout the years have gone out due to deterioration, with ice and snow being pelted at them because of the harsh Iowa winters,” said Gretchen Miller, co-chair of the Burlington Lightscape Project, which is a committee of Downtown Partners and a division of Greater Burlington Partnership.
Since 2010, the Burlington Lightscape Project has been illuminating steeples in downtown Burlington that bring the skyline to life when night falls.
Now the Great River Bridge will feature the same warm LED lighting to complement the steeple lighting.
Miller said lighting the bridge will bring a flash of beauty to residents, tourists, and commuters crossing over from Illinois.
“Driving into Burlington, it will be wonderful to see the bridge lit because the lights have been kind of dark these last few years,” she said.
The bridge will officially be lit on Monday night.
A family-friendly public celebration is planned at the Port of Burlington starting at 7:30 p.m. with music from the SCC jazz band.
A brief program is planned for 8 p.m., followed by the lighting.
Before the lighting, a video created by SCC students will be shown from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Capital Performing Arts Center. The video shows the progression of the bridge lighting and the lighting of the steeples.
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