12 May 2009
Bridge to be Illuminated for 100th Celebration
The Canadian Pacific Railway Lethbridge
viaduct.
Lethbridge Albera - The idea struck Del Allen like
a light bulb flashing on in his head.
Unfortunately, plans to transform Lethbridge's most recognizable landmark into a giant night light won't come nearly as easily.
Fortunately, Allen has done much of the legwork, dating back more than a year, and he's confident the High Level Bridge will have its
candle lit, so to speak, for its centennial celebration.
"I always thought that bridge was incredibly special, and the more time I spend around it, the more I think so," says the
Lethbridge businessman and philanthropist.
So, when he and some other civic-minded folks started talking about festivities surrounding the centennial some 14 or 15
months ago, he commented it would be nice to light up the High Level Bridge on special occasions.
To light up the bridge like a carnival ride 365 days a year might be a little overwhelming. Illuminate it on Canada Day, Christmas,
and the like, and it can serve as a beacon not only to locals, but those from afar.
"I believe people will want to come to Lethbridge to see it," says Allen.
More immediately, having the project ready to go for the anniversary's big bash - the "In the Shadow of the Bridge"
festival - was a must in his mind.
"We are going to throw that switch by 5 Sep 2009," he says, with no hint of uncertainty in his voice.
While similar ideas have been raised before, they never got off the ground for one reason or another.
Allen, president of D.A. Electric, knew it was an immense project but one that was possible. He also knew there was no point in
proceeding until he got the OK from the owner of the world's longest and largest bridge of its kind, Canadian Pacific.
"Because of all the things involved - things like liability - I spent months with them and finally got approval to go ahead and
light the bridge," says Allen, who admits it's been a lengthy process just to get this far.
"I've been in construction quite a long time and I didn't think it would amount to as much work as it did."
Canadian Pacific has often been painted as the party pooper when suggestions of regularly scheduled, sight-seeing trips
across the bridge have gone nowhere.
Spokesman Breanne Feigel says such decisions aren't taken lightly. "This is part of our history and our legacy but it is also
part of our future and our day-to-day operations. We do operate trains across that bridge..."
In this case, she says Canadian Pacific saw the value of the project, especially to mark the 100th anniversary of the bridge, and some
compromises were necessary.
"We worked quite closely with them to ensure it doesn't compromise the integrity of the bridge itself or endanger the crews on
any train travelling across it," says Feigel.
Allen got approval from Canadian Pacific to do a small-scale test, not only to see the visual effect, but whether the
lights would bother the train crew. It passed on both accounts.
As part of the deal with the railway company, there will be no mile-long strings of Christmas lights draped from span to
span. The project will see 132 special light fixtures mounted on the cement pedestals of the bridge, each shining upwards.
Working with bulbs up to 1,000 watts, special reflectors will focus the beams of light on the individual steel girders so details of
the intricate architecture aren't washed out.
"What you will see is the structure - the web of steel - pretty well every piece of steel on that bridge."
The fixtures will be removable, to negate the opportunity for vandalism, and Allen figures the bridge will require security staff on
hand when lit up.
The power source must come from the ground up, and he's planning to talk with the City of Lethbridge about tapping into existing lines
in Indian Battle Park.
There are other considerations that need to be made too, considering the location.
"We have to keep everything above the high water mark (in case of floods), and you have to make it so the deer and the antelope
don't get electrocuted," says Allen.
Allen will donate a large portion of the electrical costs of the project and his company will do the work themselves, under the
watchful eye of electrical engineers Stebnicki & Partners.
The next step is forming a committee to raise the needed funds. Although he hasn't yet arrived at a total cost for the project, he
points out the fixtures alone are worth more than $100,000.
Already showing their support of the project are Economic Development Lethbridge, the Allied Arts Council, Lethbridge Chamber of
Commerce, the City of Lethbridge, and Allen says he's had offers of corporate support.
He, for one, doesn't want to cut corners on this project.
"People had suggested we do half (the bridge) but I'm not a half a job person," he said, adding it's also important to
light up both sides of the bridge so it can be seen from all directions. "I believe this project is a life-long
project that will be around for years and years to come."
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