Here's why the Murray Baker Bridge in Peoria was lit in colors matching Ukraine's flag

Despite indications from some Peoria-area residents on social media this week, the Murray Baker Bridge's blue-and-yellow lighting wasn't a show of support for Ukraine as it fights an invasion by Russia.

Though the colors coincidentally match Ukraine's flag, the lights were instead being used as a tip of the cap to the Heart of Illinois United Way.

The bridge was lit up in blue and yellow this week in celebration of the organization's 100-year anniversary, according to Facebook posts from the HOI United Way and Light it Up-Murray Baker Bridge.

The latter group, a community organization that previously helped push to restore lights to the bridge, posted Saturday morning:

"While the lights on the bridge this week were paid for by the Heart of Illinois United Way celebrating all the work they have done locally over the last 100 years, their Mission is, to increase the organized capacity of the people in central Illinois to care for one another.

"This mission stands to what is happening in the world right now. A very timely coincidence," the post continues. "We have urged the stakeholders to keep Murray blue and gold or to relight him soon in (solidarity) with other cities that are doing the same."

The United Way tribute had an additional connection to the bridge's namesake, though. Baker — credited with helping bring Caterpillar Inc. to Peoria — was one of the founding members of HOI United Way, according to the organization.

Who decides how the bridge is lit?

Such honors are arranged in advance through requests to the city's Public Works Department, and have tended toward local tributes instead of geopolitical affairs.

City policy requires at least 30 days' notice on a lighting request, absent special circumstances, and explicitly forbids "lighting for political events, and/or political campaigns."

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Lighting schemes have celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Peoria Civic Center and the Bradley University's women's basketball team's Missouri Valley Conference championship, as well as local recognition of events like Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. There are 25 scheduled holidays this year featuring special lighting.

History of lights on the Murray Baker Bridge

Decorative lights on the Murray Baker Bridge were first flipped on during a 4th of July celebration in 1991. From 2012 to 2020 the lights went dark as a result of bulbs either breaking or burning out, and the new lights were added when the deck of the bridge was reconstructed in 2020.

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The bridge, which is lit up using taxpayer dollars, is equipped with 500 LED bulbs that cost $5 million as part of the state's capital improvement budget.

The annual cost of maintenance and power for the lights is $70,545.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Peoria's Murray Baker Bridge not lit in blue and yellow for Ukraine