Why weren't the Pensacola Bay Bridge lights on during Fourth of July?
You may have noticed the lights of the new Gen. Daniel "Chappie" James Jr. Bridge were not lit up during the Fourth of July when they are seemingly lit on other occasions. Why is that?
The short answer — the lights aren't done.
Although traffic is fully open to motorists, Florida Department of Transportation spokesperson Ian Satter told the News Journal both the bridge and its lights are still under construction to make finishing touches, meaning they will be lit up at random depending on when and why the lights are being tested.
Here's what you need to know.
What are the lights?
The new LED lights are designed to light the bridge for special occasions. The lights were part of the original plans for the bridge, and as the bridge nears official completion, contractors are testing them, Satter said.
"It's in a troubleshooting phase where they're looking at every aspect of the lighting system," Satter said. "So they do that at different times. They're looking at everything from the sequencing, the colors, the patterns. There are hundreds of light fixtures and electronic systems. They're testing all that."
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Open to traffic: Westbound span of Pensacola Bay Bridge is open. PPD has already made 21 traffic stops.
Who is in control of the lights?
When complete, the bridge and the lighting system will be under the control of FDOT.
When will the lights be finished?
Satter told the News Journal a completion date is unknown, but the department will continue testing. Once testing is complete, they will move to a "burn-in" phase where the lights will remain on each night for 30 days, and after that the lights will be completed.
"They're currently still testing," Satter told the News Journal, "so the 30-day burn-in has not been completed yet."
Satter says a timeline for the burn-in depends on when other tests such as light intensity conclude.
Will the lights be on every night once complete?
When the bridge is complete, the lights will only be on during state and federal holidays, Satter said.
"Those were decided when we were doing our project development for the bridge," Satter said. "So you'll see a certain color pattern that will be lit up for Fourth of July and Memorial Day and those types of things. We have specific patterns that we will have in place for those holidays."
Until then, the lights could be turned on at any time during the testing phase.
When will the bridge be complete?
Skanska, the contractor building the Pensacola Bay Bridge, is in the final phases of construction of the new bridge and is expected to complete the project this year.
Satter couldn't give an exact date for when the bridge will be complete. He said Skanska will notify FDOT it is ready to hand over the bridge through an official letter, and FDOT will conduct its final inspections before taking ownership.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola Bay Bridge lights off during Fourth of July due to testing
