Council to consider full bridge‑lighting replacement after staff seeks December funding item

City infrastructure staff told council the downtown suspension bridge lighting system has significant reliability and maintenance issues and recommended replacing the fixtures and control hardware to achieve a durable system and remote access for troubleshooting.

Charles Leese, director of infrastructure services, said inspections and repairs to conduit and wiring improved operability but only about 60 percent of the system is presently functional. The contractor’s base bid to replace the column set nearest the Foster Pavilion came in at about $654,000; the alternate to replace all columns and fixtures totaled another $930,000 for an all‑in replacement just over $1.6 million. Staff also identified a modest annual maintenance contract (about $6,000 per year) as a cost‑effective way to preserve system reliability.

Leese explained repairing the lighting requires specialty access beneath the I‑35 bridges; the work calls for a “bucket boat” — a lift mounted on a vessel — and the city must schedule that specialized equipment. Council members asked staff to seek a funding path to replace the full system and to return with a December agenda item. Several council members recommended replacing all columns together to avoid piecemeal repairs and to secure longer‑term durability.

Background: the lights were installed in 2015 and have suffered functional and control problems since; staff pursued troubleshooting starting in mid‑2024. The recommended replacement includes more weather‑resistant bezels to reduce bird and hail damage and remote control capability for operations and programming.