This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/costly-new-lights-go-dark-on-naval-academy-bridge/2016/01/03/591213d6-b26b-11e5-9388-466021d971de_story.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Costly new lights go dark on Naval Academy Bridge Costly new lights go dark on Naval Academy Bridge
(about 13 hours later)
In the evenings while driving home, Michael O’Neil and his daughter play a game while crossing the Naval Academy Bridge: Count the lights out. In the evenings, while driving home, Michael O’Neil and his daughter play a game while crossing the Naval Academy Bridge: Count the lights out.
Madilyn might count 27; her father gets 29.Madilyn might count 27; her father gets 29.
Whatever the number, O’Neil says, it’s too many for the graceful bridge that arcs nearly 90 feet above the Severn River. Whatever the number, O’Neil says, it’s too many for the graceful bridge, which arcs nearly 90 feet above the Severn River.
“What the heck is going on? It’s been like that for months,” said O’Neil, who lives in Annapolis.“What the heck is going on? It’s been like that for months,” said O’Neil, who lives in Annapolis.
In August 2014, crews replaced poles and fixtures with decorative, energy-efficient LED lighting. That project cost $350,000.In August 2014, crews replaced poles and fixtures with decorative, energy-efficient LED lighting. That project cost $350,000.
Today, more than 30 of the 80 lights are dark.Today, more than 30 of the 80 lights are dark.
State officials are aware of the outages, said Charlie Gischlar, spokesman for the Maryland State Highway Administration, and are working to determine what happened and plan repairs.State officials are aware of the outages, said Charlie Gischlar, spokesman for the Maryland State Highway Administration, and are working to determine what happened and plan repairs.
“They should last years and years,” Gischlar said. “There’s clearly something wrong.”“They should last years and years,” Gischlar said. “There’s clearly something wrong.”
After their installation, the LED lights ran day and night for one month — a test burn. Everything worked, Gischlar said. After installation, the LED lights ran day and night for one month — a test burn. Everything worked, Gischlar said. Months later, lights started malfunctioning. It’s unclear whether the state will have to pay for repairs.
Months later, lights started malfunctioning, he said. It’s unclear whether the state will have to pay for repairs.
“I don’t know at this point,” he said. “We signed off on it. The system was totally operational.”“I don’t know at this point,” he said. “We signed off on it. The system was totally operational.”
The original lights were installed when the bridge opened, in August 1994, but they corroded over the years. The original lights were installed when the bridge opened, in 1994, but they corroded over the years.
The bridge itself was a source of contention. It replaced a 1920s drawbridge that blocked traffic into Annapolis whenever it was raised. The current bridge, which carries Route 450 over the Severn, was designed and built in three years for $34 million. The bridge itself was a source of contention. It replaced a 1920s drawbridge that blocked traffic into Annapolis whenever it was raised. The current bridge, which carries Route 450 over the river, was designed and built in three years for $34 million. The 2,835-foot span carries an average of 17,000 cars and trucks daily, Gischlar said.
Two years before it opened, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit threw out a lawsuit by neighbors trying to block the construction.Two years before it opened, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit threw out a lawsuit by neighbors trying to block the construction.
The residents worried that a new bridge would bring more traffic and that the bridge would become a drag strip.The residents worried that a new bridge would bring more traffic and that the bridge would become a drag strip.
Today, the 2,835-foot span carries an average of 17,000 cars and trucks each day over the river, Gischlar said.
O’Neil said the outages make for dim conditions on the bridge’s bike lane.O’Neil said the outages make for dim conditions on the bridge’s bike lane.
“Even with the outages,” Gischlar said, “there is more than sufficient operational lighting.”“Even with the outages,” Gischlar said, “there is more than sufficient operational lighting.”
— The Baltimore Sun — Baltimore Sun