Narrows bridge lighting increased

VERONA ISLAND – In response to motorists’ comments, the Maine Department of Transportation has turned on another set of test lights on the new Penobscot Narrows Bridge.

The second set of lights, located on the northbound lane of the bridge at the Verona Island side, were turned on Friday night, said DOT spokesperson Carol Morris.

Crews had turned on a set of 10 lights on the southbound lane earlier last week, and the department had intended to wait a few weeks for public comments before turning on the second set.

But, although only about a dozen motorists have commented through the DOT Web site, the reaction to the first set of lights was unanimous.

“They all said ‘we don’t like them,”‘ Morris said Saturday. “They said their concern was that the lights cause too much glare.”

The consensus was that they would like the department to find another solution, she said. DOT’s response to the comments was to move up turning on the second sets of lights in the other lane.

The second set of 10 lights was installed near the Verona Island end of the bridge on the guard rail of the northbound lane. They were set lower on the guardrails in an effort to reduce the effects of glare on drivers, Morris said.

“We’ll see how that works,” she said.

The lights are part of the decorative lighting designed for the bridge, which, in addition to the necklace lighting on the bridge deck, also includes lights on the pylons and on the cable stays which support the bridge deck.

Glare was one of the concerns the department had when they first installed the necklace lights in early January. They removed the lights immediately with the intention of installing groups of lights to test different configurations.

Initially, the necklace lighting and other decorative lighting was scheduled to be lit only during a 90-day period in the summer. Lighting costs are generally paid for by the communities linked by a bridge.

The DOT, however, had agreed to pay the bill for the lights during the summer months.

If some configuration of the necklace lighting proves effective in lighting the bridge deck, the department will cover the costs of keeping those lights lit year round.

Anyone wishing to comment on the lighting plans may write to Bridge Lights, P.O. Box 1772, Bucksport 04416, or go to the Send Your Comments section on the bridge project Web site: www.waldohancockbridge.com.