Big River Crossing a big success on both sides of the Mississippi

Big River Crossing a big success on both sides of the Mississippi

Good crowd, good weather combine for good time on Harahan Bridge

news@theeveningtimes.com

With a boom and a flash, the Big River Crossing (BRX) lights illuminated the Harahan bridge and reflected in the river ripples below. The City of West Memphis provided the pyrotechnics for the twenty minute grand unveiling of 100,00 LED lights along the new bike and pedestrian connector Saturday night.

“This dynamic lighting system is designed to enhance how people experience the iconic boardwalk,” said Amy Huntington, CEO Philips Lighting Americas.

The light show did just that, instantly wowing the crowd taking in the experience from a whole new perspective on the mile long BRX deck 100 feet over the Mississippi River. Light cast upwards to the full 192 foot bridge top shining rainbow patterns, candy cane stripes, and an variety of hues flowing across the bridge reflecting in the river ripples below. Photographers grabbed shots from the bridge and of the bridge along Riverside Drive and Martyrs Park. Drones circled the scene shooting video of the ever moving light display on the BRX.

“For decades, some of the most iconic images of our city have been our bridges,” said Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland.

“This is a major step forward both for our image and the bridge’s ability to further the pride we all have in Memphis.”

Private donations by anonymous donors amounting to $12 million funded four LED light strands across the Harahan Bridge on the Big River Crossing.

The contributions also pay for the supporting cloud technology, maintenance and even the power bill for a few years.

Photo by John Rech “The private donors are in effect purchasing and donating to the community lighting and installation on the Big River Crossing on the Harahan and offering to purchase and donate lighting for the Hernando DeSoto Bridge,” said Strickland in January. “This lighting will come at zero cost to the taxpayer.”

According to Strickland the same bridge lighting benefactors are considering similar lighting on the “m” bridge. If all the moving parts come together, LED installation on the new bridge could start as early as next spring. The light displays would serve as bookends framing the river vista at night with the lit bridges.

Philips was the contracted for the BRX lights and have also done lighting on the Empire State Building, The Bay Bridge in California, and the Big Dam Bridge project in Little Rock.

Experts expect the lights to warm both the vertical trusses and ignite the Mid-South tourism economy just as other lighting attractions are doing around the globe.

“Light is swiftly becoming one of the most powerful tools to breathe life into cities, from New York and San Francisco to London and Paris,” said Bryan Duffel, Regional Manager, Public Sector of Philips Lighting. “The new LED lighting system on the Big River Crossing typifies this growing global trend and serves as a model for other cities to follow.”

Gates to the BRX open daily from dawn to 10:00 Landing on the Arkansas side. There are two ways to get to the BRX in Crittenden County. From Interstate 55 take exit 1, Bridgeport Road, and go east toward Dacus Lake Road. For cyclists and hiker there are a handful of paved parking spots at South Loop and Broadway at the Big River Trail head which is paved all the way

to the BRX.

By John Rech