In an effort to inspire donations to upgrade and maintain the lights on the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge the Covington-Cincinnati Suspension Bridge Committee will turn off all the decorative lighting on the bridge at 8 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 7.
The committee hopes that by going dark residents of Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati will become more aware of the lights' aesthetic value to the community and prompt the public to contribute to a new lighting project.
The John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge is a more than 140-year-old Cincinnati icon fondly referred to by tri-staters as the Suspension Bridge.
Photographs of the bridge, dubbed a "national treasure," hang on the walls of countless Cincinnati restaurants, homes and offices and even serve as the backdrops for several local television stations. The lights atop it are a distinguishing feature of the Cincinnati skyline.
The National Historical Landmark has experienced countless changes since its opening to traffic on Jan. 1, 1867. This includes multiple paint colors and the installation of decorative cable lighting by the bridge committee in 1984 as a memorial to Julia Langsam, a president of the group, who fought to have the necklace lights added.
"Without the lighting of this national historic landmark, there will be darkness along the river and the majestic skyline," said Bob Armstrong, the president of the Covington-Cincinnati Suspension Bridge Committee.
The bridge is currently undergoing a $16.2 million painting project under the direction of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. The lights have to be removed before the cleaning and painting of the historic structure can resume next spring. The bridge committee said it hopes to raise $450,000 to provide $350,000 for a new energy efficient LED-based decorative lighting system to be installed after the painting project is completed in November 2010 and $100,000 for the 20-year maintenance fund.
"If adequate funds can’t be raised, the John A Roebling Bridge will not be illuminated," Armstrong said. "We’re asking for help so that future generations can enjoy this historic landmark in its full glory."
The bridge committee has already raised $150,000 for the lighting fund. Those interested in contributing to the Suspension Bridge can visit http://www.roeblingbridge.com/.
