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The Peace Bridge has become an integral symbol of a burgeoning Calgary budding with projects fashioned by star-studded architects. Santiago Calatrava's pedestrian and cycling bridge has had an illuminating effect on the Bow River since it was completed in 2012, but the very bulbs that create the highly photographed night scene are already reaching the end of their lifespan. To rectify this, the City is replacing the original bulbs with 300 LED light fixtures.
The existing linear fluorescent bulbs — common in office environments — were rated for indoor use only and are quickly burning out. They were also deemed unfit by the city to withstand Calgary's harsh winters. The energy efficient replacements are expected to last 10 years and require less maintenance.
Until December 2, each side of the bridge will close independently to accommodate the $700,000 installation work. This will allow pedestrians and cyclists to continue using the bridge, though traffic flow will be impeded by the partitioning.
The $24.5 million bridge has undergone other cosmetic repairs recently, most notably a $152,000 fix of glass panels after they were damaged over the summer by vandals. Dozens of the in-floor lights embedded into the cycle lane's concrete curbs also went missing in 2015. The City claimed water drainage, traffic, and vandalism likely contributed to their loss.
The Peace Bridge minimizes its ecological footprint by forgoing pier footings and is designed to withstand Calgary's 100-year flood cycle. The helical structure's design departs from other Calatrava-commissioned bridges, which typically don white colouring and asymmetrical shapes. Despite its much-publicized problems, the bridge is a popular piece of civic infrastructure that is widely admired by aficionados of urban design.
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