The Walnut Street Bridge soon will be re-lit.
Harrisburg’s historic Walnut Street Bridge will light up again this fall after a budget reallocation passed unanimously by City Council this week.
The resolution allotted $63,000 of a refund from PPL Electric Utilities for LED lights to illuminate the trusses of the Walnut Street Bridge, similar to those recently installed under the arches of the Market Street Bridge. The lights can be programmed for any event or holiday celebration, which will be coordinated with the neighboring Market Street Bridge display, said Mayor Eric Papenfuse.
“It will be a nice combination,” he said.
The nearly 130-year old wrought iron truss bridge connects the city’s mainland with City Island.
In 1990, the Reed administration installed thousands of small, incandescent bulbs, giving the bridge a sparkling effect at night. However, in recent years, the expensive bulbs and outdated wiring have been failing, which led to their removal in 2016.
The $63,000 from the city will be combined with a grant from the Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District to install the new lighting, which will shine on the bridge more broadly, giving it a different look at night from the previous, small incandescent lights.
“We have something in mind,” City Councilman Benjamin Allatt said. “It just has to be executed.”
Two years ago, Harrisburg completed a citywide upgrade of almost all of its streetlights with long-lasting LED lights and even fixed and replaced many light poles, which had been damaged over the years. However, the Walnut Street Bridge was not part of that project.
Author: Allison Moody
