Brooklyn Bridge Facelift to Light up the NYC Skyline

By C.G. Hoffman

The Brooklyn Bridge is getting a facelift, as the aging landmark was in dire need of some “self care.” Included in the four year effort of scrubbing decades of grime from the bridge, the NYC DOT has announced that from Thursday evening, the bridge will be lit with a new, bright, energy efficient LED system, with an addition of 56 new lights on the bridge’s distinctive towers. NYC DOT will commemorate the new lighting system going live at an event this evening at 5:00 p.m. in Brooklyn Bridge Park.

“The Brooklyn Bridge is one of New York City's crown jewels -- I'm excited to see the new and improved energy-efficient lighting that it deserves!,” said Councilmember Lincoln Restler. 

The beloved New York landmark, built in 1883, has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is called by many “America’s Eiffel Tower.” The four year project has poured $300 million into restoration of the bridge, scrubbing decades of dirt and soot from every single stone on the bridge, replacing the mortar between the stones, and restoring the iconic towers to their original light gray color. The new lighting system cost $2.4 million, and took five months to install.

Construction of the bridge began in January 1869, and was the longest suspension bridge in the world when it was completed. Today, it accommodates and estimated 120,00 vehicles, 30,000 pedestrians, and 4,000 cyclists every day.