LED Bridge Lighting

What Is LED Bridge Lighting?

LED bridge lighting is the systematic illumination of urban bridges using heavy-duty LED lighting fixtures. Bridges include pedestrian bridges, footbridges, and car bridges. The primary purposes of LED bridge lighting are to enhance the urban landscape’s aesthetic value and improve the public’s security and safety as they regularly traverse the bridge.

Importance of LED Bridge Lighting

The first question is why bridge lighting is essential to us and how it adds value to our landscape. The primary purposes it serves are discussed in detail below.

• LED bridge lighting creates a better view

Bridge lighting directly improves the aesthetic beauty of the mundane urban landscape. People are attracted to mesmerizing spots that provide them with a nice visual experience. They use such landmarks as recreational spots to relax and enjoy themselves with their loved ones. Lighting architecture makes the locals proud of their cities.

• LED bridge lighting boosts business

A beautiful landmark attracts businesses from all over the world. It works like a magnet in increasing the influx of tourists and investors from different parts of the country. A bridge that simultaneously provides safety and security and an amazing sight to the city residents will become the center of attention for everyone in no time.

Local authorities use such remarkable landmarks to celebrate a special event or day celebrated by the local community. People gather at one place and enjoy the bridge’s beautiful lighting on days such as New Year’s Eve, Christmas, etc. All of such events contribute to the overall economy of the city.

• LED bridge lighting improves safety and security

Bridges are an important architectural feature that facilitates travelers and the general public. A bridge requires many features, and lighting is of the utmost importance. A well-lit bridge will help the travelers trespass with safety and comfort. Pedestrians can easily navigate the area and avoid any mishaps. It greatly enhances the safety and security of the inhabitants and reduces the crime rates on bridges.

Different Types Of LED Bridge Lighting

To dig deeper into the LED bridge lighting, we first understand the different types of bridge lighting achieved nowadays. Each serves a different purpose and requires a different approach in designing, fixture type, and placement.

• Functional bridge lighting

Functional bridge lighting is specifically designed for the people traversing the bridge. As the name implies, this lighting enhances the passengers’ nighttime visibility, making sure the illumination is not too dim or too bright to cause any accidents. Functional lighting plays an important role in reducing the ratio of accidents taking place on the bridges.

The importance can be understood by a phenomenon called photic stimulation caused by rhythmic flickering and flashing of the artificial lights. It can cause adverse neurological effects, increasing nighttime traffic accidents.

• Decorative bridge lighting

Decorative bridge lighting is achieved to develop an aesthetic value of the urban landscape. Designers and architects use their creative analysis to design the best lighting outcome, resulting in a splendid art piece to attract locals and tourists. It provides an economic boost by marketing the city to the rest of the world.

Such visual experiences are the beautiful bridge landmarks such as George Washington Bridge (New York) and Illuminated River Project (London).

• Underbridge lighting

Underbridge lighting is the lighting designed for bridges that let the traffic or public pass underneath them. Such lighting provides security and safety and better visibility for the passers-by during nighttime. It provides both aesthetic and functional benefits to the people.

Factors To Consider While Choosing The Best Bridge Lights?

Bridge lights are chosen by considering various aspects, such as lamps, performance, durability, and aesthetics. Bridges are the most crucial point of any area in terms of safety, importance, and heritage.

So, you have to consider multiple things while choosing the best bridge illumination for your project. Here, we have gathered all the information you need to compare and select the best lighting system available in the market.

Type of lights (LED vs. HPS vs. Metal halides)

Bridge lights come in different shapes and sizes, and knowing about such lights will be very beneficial for you in the selection process.

• LED

Light Emitting Diodes (LED) is the leading technology that is rapidly replacing conventional bridge lights nowadays. LED contains two diodes, anode and cathode, and electricity flowing through these produces light.

LEDs consume less energy, produce far more incredible lumens, and are long-lasting. LEDs bridge lights can operate on Low Voltages, are safer and much more durable than HPS and Metal halides.

You can find these in almost any bridge lighting system. LED bridge lighting system offers a range of flexibility that no technology could offer before.

Keeping and maintaining the cultural vibe of the bridge/ landscape is essential, and you can do that by customizing the LEDs to match the ambiance of the place.

The winner of the 2016  London bridge design competition Leo Villareal (American artist), said this,

“I wouldn’t have been able to do this without LED.”

• HPS

High-Pressure Sodium(HPS) lamps produce light by passing a current through vaporized sodium and other gases. It is used in bridge lighting systems as it gives sound output and requires less maintenance overall. The efficiency of HPS is better but not comparable to LEDs.

You can find these at less expensive rates initially. The color spectrum and flexibility of HPS light are fairly restricted. So, you have to consider this before choosing these lights for your bridge lighting project.

• Metal Halides

Metal Halides bulbs work by passing high currents through mercury and halide gasses and containing light filament. These lights dominated the conventional bridge lighting as it is one of the early technologies. Metal halides have color temperatures and are suitable for intense light applications.

Durability

The bridge lights need to be durable and long-lasting as these are difficult to replace, and maintenance costs can become very high, considering they cover large areas. LED bridge lights are much stable than any other lighting system as LED lights can last up to 50000+ hours.

You have to check the bridge lighting fixtures’ warranty and wattages before buying any product for your lighting project.  

Intelligent control and multiple control modes

LED lights are intelligent lights that offer you a wide range of control. These have a natural 180⁰ spread and are great for directional lighting. Make sure the LED lighting system provides you with control modes such as beam angle, color temperature, and intensity according to your need. LEDs provide far superior control, and that is why it is a popular choice for bridge illumination.

Intelligent control is required in bridge lights because of pedestrians’ safety and control the reflection and glare of bridge lights.  These control modes also play a role in decorative bridge lighting.

LED bridge lights do not produce UV, infrared rays, and their heat emission is also significantly less, so they are a reasonable choice for bridge lighting systems.

Anti-vibration

Anti-vibration capability protects the lamps from damage due to vibrations produced by moving people and vehicles on the bridge. You have to consider the vibration-resistant led lights for your projects. LED bridge lights with anti-vibration capability run far more and save money on maintenance.

Weatherproof

Bridge lamps are often located in a very open landscape and face harsh weather conditions depending on different areas. You have to make sure the bridge lighting system has what it takes to bear such weather.

Some areas are sunny and get very hot, and others are very cold; some are extremely windy so before choosing the best-LED bridge lighting fixtures, make sure they can withstand the weather.

How Does LED Bridge Lighting Benefit Us?

Bridge lighting uses LEDs, metal halides, HPS, fluorescent lighting, etc. However, this section discusses why LEDs are better for bridge lighting applications and why they are more prevalent in bridge lighting.

• LED Bridge lighting is energy efficient

It cannot be stressed enough how important energy saving is for the future of the planet. The use of LEDs saves up to 75% of the energy. According to an analysis, if all the lights are switched to LEDs, then by the year 2027, we can save up to 348 TWh of electricity, which is a huge figure. LEDs produce less heat and last longer than other types of bulbs. For instance, incandescent bulbs and CFLs emit ~90% of their energy in the form of heat, which eventually reduces their life, thus prompting a replacement.

• LED Bridge Lighting is cost-effective

LEDs provide a huge cut down on the bills as LED is currently the most energy-efficient technology in the lighting industry. LEDs produce can easily last up to 50000 hours, which is 50 times longer than other types of bulbs such as incandescent bulbs. The durability of LEDs pays off in the long run, and the high investment cost is compensated.

• LEDs bridge lighting is environmentally friendly.

LED lighting gives off no toxic and harmful gases. They are made of environmentally friendly materials and help in reducing light pollution as well. Other bulb type uses toxic elements such as mercury which are hard to dispose of. On the other hand, LEDs can be disposed of easily, reducing cost and time complications.

• LEDs Bridge lighting provides the best light output

LEDs distribute a high-quality light output. The LEDs’ directional properties make them a superior choice because they dissipate lesser energy compared to other bulb types and can focus the light at one point. This creates brighter illumination, cutting down the need to install many lighting fixtures, which further reduces the cost.

What Lighting Products Are Usually Used For Bridge Projects?

Bridge illuminations use different products such as LED wall washers, linear lights, floodlights, pixel lights, neon lights, and post lights to create stunning effects.

LED Wall Washer

LED wall washers can be an amazing product where wall grazing and wall washing results are required. Wall washing is used to create a ‘smooth’ wall effect to hide imperfections of the walls. Simultaneously, wall grazing can be effective in illuminating tunnels and bridges made of walls having special textures.

It is usually used in the post/pillars of the bridges and underpasses. Large structures of bridges can be boring and have a lot of room for creativity, and with LED wall washing, you can illuminate large planes and produce mesmerizing effects. With different colors and intelligent control, fantastic results can be seen.

LED Linear lights

LED linear lights are often installed in the handrails of the bridges. The bridge’s edges can be illuminated using LED linear lighting strips that create a uniform illumination best suited for pedestrian bridges.

LED Neon Lights

LED neon lights produce dazzling effects in bridges and make them more mesmerizing. They are extremely flexible, and you can be very creative with the design.  From small pedestrian bridges to large bridges, these are best suited for decoration.

LED Flood Lights

LED floodlights are mainly used to enhance focus on the deck of the bridge. These lights are trendy in bridge lighting, where high illumination is required.

These lights are also less reflective on water surfaces if the bridge is, making it extremely practical.

The LED spotlighting on bridges also comes under this category, in which you have to pick an architectural space to highlight. It works excellent in highlighting the heritage of bridges with cultural significance and creating contrast.

LED Media Facade Pixel Lights

LED pixel media facade lights in bridges can create extraordinary animations and stunning effects. You can use it for public attractions,  and it will undoubtedly become the favorite spot among the tourists.  These intelligent LED pixel light technologies have revolutionized bridge lighting, and it is available with many options for you to explore.

Tips For Designing LED Bridge Lighting 

A bridge is a marvelous architectural creation that involves many engineering principles. Similarly, the bridge lighting designing is a separate topic that considers various factors such as light pollution, color scheme, night pollution, contrast, cultural views of the people living there and their requirements, sufficient illumination, etc.

Reduce light pollution

Light pollution is excessive illumination at nighttime that disrupts the natural environment and affects nighttime visibility. Bridge lighting must be such that it reduces light pollution and creates a comfortable illumination for the public.

To achieve this, use lighting fixtures that throw a controlled light and not spill the illumination elsewhere. Moreover, there are regulations regarding night pollution that you can consider while designing. When lighting up a bridge that passes over a railway line or roads, take special care of the signaling lights to avoid mishaps and confusion.

Creating a focal point

Usually, bridges do not require much more lighting than buildings and facades because bridges are seen against a dark background. It is necessary to create a focal point in the bridges, such as illuminating pillars/posts and other key elements in the structure. Lighting up the whole bridge without leaving any areas can give off an uncomfortable and cluttered look.

Create Identity

Bridge serves as a special architectural feature in the city, and it is essential to design the lighting that resonates with the residents of that area. A unique identity can be curated that represents that region to the rest of the world in a meaningful manner.

You can consult expert designers and practitioners to take care of the aesthetics.

Spotlight from underneath

Bridge lighting is incomplete without illuminating the underside of the bridge. LED spotlights that shine from below the bridge enhance the security and the beauty of the bridge as seen from a distance. It is a good design tip and must be followed to create a holistic lighting design.

Comfortable illumination 

The right amount of illumination (measured in lux and fc) that does not cause discomfort to the passengers and the road’s vehicles. You should achieve a glare-free light that uniformly illuminates the bridge. Usually, a 20 lux illumination is used to light up a motorway.

Luminance

Luminance (measured in cd/m²) is the brightness of the surface in a person’s field of view. Make sure that the brightness level of your bridge lighting fixture is best suited for the bridge type. Lesser luminance means the person cannot see the details of the passage and vice versa. It depends on the road material reflectiveness, e.g., concrete reflects more light than asphalt and will require less luminance than the asphalt bridge.

Contrast

Contrast is the difference in the illuminance of two surfaces in bridges. It would help if you created a higher contrast for better visibility.

How Can LED Bridge Lighting Be Customized?

Customizing the lighting according to your projects, audience, business type, and mood/ambiance is necessary. The features that can be customized are mentioned below.

Fixture Material

It is best to choose the ETL/CL-listed lighting fixtures that will stand the test of time. Bridge lighting fixtures should be such that you don’t require replacement and re-installation after a short period.

IP rating

The IP rating calculates the waterproof properties of the lighting. It’s particularly essential for outdoor lighting. To withstand moisture and heavy rain, your landscape lighting must have at least an IP45 grade. The IP rating can go all the way up to IP67, which means the fixture is highly waterproof and perfect for LED bridge landscape lighting.

Colors of the bridge

For decorative LED bridge lighting, you should experiment with colors and find the best solution. Keep in mind that you do not want excessive and uncomfortable illumination and night pollution. The best color choice depends on the surrounding lights as well.

The temperature range is 3000K-4000K for more excellent colors, whereas the warmer color range is 2500k-2700k. Usually, warmer colors are preferred for bridge lighting to create a comfortable illumination. However, this depends on your choice and needs.

According to the events and occasions, changing the bridge lighting colors is the most common trend for landmarks like bridges. You can change the colors of your project to suit the special day to attract more people.

Lumens

Lumens measure the brightness level. You can adjust the brightness level according to your bridge requirements.

Beam Angle

Beam angles come into play when we install spotlights or flood lights on the bridge. The choice of luminaires depends on the dimensions of the bridge. For example, for a bigger area, you need floodlights with an approximate beam angle of 120° than spotlights with a 45° angle.

Tips for Pedestrian Bridge Lighting

The lighting requirements differ for every type of bridge.

What is a Pedestrian Bridge?

A pedestrian Bridge or a footbridge is the type of bridge made for the people who walk and cycle. More and more pedestrian bridges are now being built instead of subways to facilitate the public as this option is cost and time-effective.  

They need designing attention that incorporates the comfort of the people and aesthetics. Footbridge lighting mainly depends on the type of bridge (truss, beam, arch, etc.), length, and dimensions.

To start the design, one way is to refer to the British Standard for road lighting design (BS5489), and then you can alter the specifications accordingly.

Typically, 5 lux illumination is achieved in footbridges. Higher illumination can cause light pollution and decreased visibility.

1. Column Illumination

Generally, you can illuminate a footbridge using classic columns of about 3-5m with a spacing-column height ratio of 5:1.  This is the most widely opted solution because it is easy to install and uses fewer fixtures, reducing energy consumption. Vertical illumination is safe for the public as well because the columns are far from people’s reach. However, this lighting can not be done on every bridge, owing to the design differences.

2. Handrail Lighting

Another suitable lighting solution is lighting the handrails of the bridge. You can achieve symmetrical lighting on each side as well as asymmetrical light on one-hand rail only. It provides a clear illumination on the pathway, and the light reflects off to people’s faces.

3. Recessed Lighting

A third solution is to use recessed lights on the deck of the bridge. The solution creates a great visual appeal as no fixtures or cables are visible, and light is thrown upward, forming a nice pattern. However, the light does not fall directly on the deck itself, which can be considered a downside. You will need another lighting fixture to throw the light on the pavement.

Lighting fixtures should be safe, water, and dustproof, made of strong material to withstand weather changes. They should be long-lasting with high output light.

What Is the Cost Of Installing LED Bridge Lights?

The overall cost of LED bridge lighting depends on many factors, some of which are listed below:

• Type of the bridge (Pedestrian, traffic bridge, underbridge lighting, etc.)
• Dimensions of the bridge
• The kind of LED lighting fixtures (smart LEDs, solar LEDs, types of fixtures, etc.)
• Installation difficulty
• The labor hours required.

We can not estimate the total cost without having the information and details of the project. The price range can vary from a thousand to even millions of dollars!

How To Reduce The Energy Use In LED Bridge Lighting?

Energy can be tremendously saved by using long-lasting LEDs with a robust fixture material and high durability. This reduces maintenance, replacement, and recurring installation costs. The use of solar LEDs for bridge lighting is also an effective way to save costs in the long run.

Dimming system

An easy and effective way of reducing the energy use in LED bridge lighting is incorporating the automatic function and dimming system in the LEDs. Such control enables the lighting fixtures to change their brightness levels according to the sun’s position. The lights turn off automatically in daylight and turn on as the sun starts to set. This saves a lot of energy and increases the life of the fixture as well.  

Color Changing LED Bridge Lighting

The world’s most famous bridges have been designed with color-changing lighting that attracts people from all over the world. You can create the bridge’s design using a smart DMX control system to create mesmerizing patterns and colors that change regularly or on a special occasion or event and choreographed to music. More and more project managers are opting for this trend.

One amazing example of such a design is LED wall washers in San Francisco. The changing patterns do not repeat, which means each pattern is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.  

Conclusion

LED bridge lighting is gaining immense importance as it represents the city to the entire world and can be turned into a lucrative business. Apart from providing aesthetic value, bridge lighting also provides security and safety to the city’s inhabitants. You can gain many tips from this guide for designing the best LED bridge lighting.