Jacksonville Bridges going dark since superbowl

[coredumped]

Jacksonville's bridges were postcard-pretty when thousands of visitors converged on downtown for the Super Bowl in 2005.

A decade later, the vivid lights have faded like an aging postcard.

The lights still switch on each night, but outdated technology has taken its toll. Burned out lamps haven't been replaced. The opening-night pizzazz has lost some of its wow factor.

The Jacksonville Transportation Authority is considering restoration of one feature that's been on the blink — the neon blue strip that ran along the Acosta Bridge. The city also plans to replace 28 industrial-sized bulbs that burned out on the Main Street bridge, which would amp up the blue glow on that span.

Full article:
http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2015-12-29/story/bridges-wow-factor-dimmed-significantly-superbowl-2005

[thelakelander]

It's crazy that 10 years have already passed. The Main Street Bridge now looks like it also needs another paint job.

[coredumped]

Looking back, I think the bridges are the only things that were better during the superbowl than today. Jacksonville is better now than then, but still not ready to host again.

The Hart bridge always looks sharp at night.

Acosta and Main Street are very sad.

[fsujax]

Well it is Jacksonville, home of not maintaining what we have.

[JaxAvondale]

Once the amphitheater gets built, I would love for the city & Jaguars to bid for the NFL draft. They wouldn't need as many hotels. The weather is usually very good in late April/early May. Build a temporary pop-up retail area around the stadium. It would be a good start to changing perceptions that downtown can't host a big event.

[E_Dubya]

Before I moved back to Jacksonville, driving in on 95 South was one of my favorite "welcome-home" moments. I really hope they can figure out a way to refurbish and maintain the cityscape as it was with the Acosta and Main Street bridges light up so well. As with everything in this city, only time will tell.

[Overstreet]

It's crazy that 10 years have already passed. The Main Street Bridge now looks like it also needs another paint job.

It looks better than the rail road bridge.

[simms3]

Before I moved back to Jacksonville, driving in on 95 South was one of my favorite "welcome-home" moments. I really hope they can figure out a way to refurbish and maintain the cityscape as it was with the Acosta and Main Street bridges light up so well. As with everything in this city, only time will tell.

Agreed.  I had friends growing up from both Charleston and South FL that always remembered passing through Jacksonville because of the Acosta blacklights.  How expensive could it possibly be?  Every city with bridges lights them with LEDs these days.

[jaxlore]

I believe there was a whole thread dedicated to how people on MJ could light there bridge for pennies on the dollar. I'll volunteer my Christmas Lights but you cant have the Santa though.

[jaxjaguar]

Yep, that was me. I still have the contact info for the companies who supply industrial LED ropes / strands. I could buy all of the parts for a few hundred bucks / donate them, if the city would be willing to let someone local contract the installation for a reasonable price.

I still have a dream that one day the Matthews will be lit red too!

[tufsu1]

It's crazy that 10 years have already passed. The Main Street Bridge now looks like it also needs another paint job.

sadly, the Main Street Bridge was repainted less than 5 years ago...and yep, could definitely use it again

[coredumped]

It could use some paint, but it definitely needs to be lit up better.

[blizz01]

Sometimes I think that city leaders get blindfolded and choppered in and out of downtown for work......

[Dapperdan]

With the improvement of LED technology and how cheap it has become, there is no excuse to not get new cheaper parts and make it work. Shameful.

[marty904]

It's crazy that 10 years have already passed. The Main Street Bridge now looks like it also needs another paint job.

It looks better than the rail road bridge.

+1
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