Iway Bridge Light Pillar Should Be Shut Down
January 2010 :
I am writing this in regards to the economic and environmental costs associated with the lighting system being used on the new Iway Providence River Bridge. While there is no question that adequate lighting is necessary on the bridge, the lighting system actually in use is not designed simply for roadway visibility and safety, but to create a dramatic Las Vegas-style light pillar that is excessive and unnecessary. The lights used on the bridge appear to be used merely for ornamentation rather than providing the illumination necessary for roadway safety. This ostentatious lighting scheme is not only out of place in a small city far removed from Las Vegas, but it is also out of place in our energy-conscious and budget-sensitive times.
There is no doubt that we live in challenging economic conditions. Hardly a day goes by without some news about the state’s budget woes and the measures and cutbacks being considered to close the budget gap. Given this reality, it is deeply troubling that we find it acceptable to spend our limited resources keeping the Iway Bridge light pillar shining into the sky every night.
In recent times, energy efficiency and environmental awareness have become important issues in the sphere of public consciousness. We are being encourages to change the light bulbs in our homes to more energy efficient ones and to turn them off when we leave the room. National Grid is challenging us to use 3% less energy over the next year. The federal government has spent billions of dollars on incentives to get consumers to drive more fuel-efficient vehicles and to make energy-efficient home improvements. Consuming less energy not only saves money, but also reduces adverse effects on the environment.
When it comes to outdoor lighting, another impact on the environment--one very seldom given attention—is that excessive or improperly designed or directed lighting creates light pollution. Light pollution is term given to the problems caused by poorly shielded or misdirected lighting that shines not down on the ground where it is needed, but outwards and upwards, causing glare and skyglow. It is much more prevalent in cities than in rural areas due to a higher concentration of lights. Properly shielded lights prevent skyglow by directing all of the light to the ground, where it is needed for visibility and safety. Skyglow has an adverse effect on the environment by creating a persistent, artificial twilight that has been known to alter the behavior of insects, birds, and marine life. With the deliberate uplight of the Iway bridge lights, the skyglow over Providence has increased dramatically in the past year. In fact, on overcast nights I can see a profusely bright white patch in the clouds towards the direction of the Iway bridge from my driveway nearly 5 miles away. Given how obvious the lighting is from this distance, it is most certainly visible over a much larger radius, resulting in over 100 square miles of Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Narragansett Bay that are affected by the skyglow from the Iway bridge light pillar. This spotlight into the sky has drastically increased the amount of ambient light at night over this area. It fact, the Iway bridge light pillar is now the brightest single source of light pollution in all of Rhode Island.
Not only is the natural world affected by light pollution, but there have also been recent studies that have suggested that excessive light at night has negative effects on human health due to interruption of the circadian rhythm. Our body’s internal clock requires the regular cycle of light and dark to regulate our health. After an article in the November 2008 issue of National Geographic Magazine titled “The End of Night: Why We Need Darkness” brought widespread public attention to the light pollution problem, the American Medical Association earlier this year adopted Resolution 516 calling for efforts to reduce light pollution for the sake of public safety and energy reduction.
With regards to these concerns, it has always been my understanding that environmental impact studies are conducted before projects on the scale of the Iway are undertaken. These studies are done, presumably, to prevent any public works or private development project from adversely affecting its immediate surroundings, neighbors, or the environment itself. Unfortunately, given how wide a swath of territory it directly affects, it seems that the environmental impact of the Iway bridge lighting has been grossly overlooked. While conducting research on what, if any regulations regarding light pollution exist in Rhode Island, I came across the 2002 Outdoor Lighting Control Act. This act was written on the premise that “[t]he general assembly finds that fully shielded lighting units considerably reduce light pollution. The general assembly further finds that the replacement of unshielded lighting units with fully shielded lighting units can result in substantial lowering in the wattage of the lamp needed to maintain an equivalent level of lighting on the ground, thereby realizing a considerable energy savings to the state. Therefore, it is in the public interest to require the use of fully shielded lighting units to the maximum extent possible.” I won’t quote the entire text of the act here, but the relevant excerpts state that “[t[he installation of any new or replacement permanent outdoor lighting unit by or for a state agency shall meet the following conditions: (1) The new or replacement luminaire permits no more than two percent (2%) of the total lumen in the zone of ninety (90) to one hundred eighty (180) degrees vertical angle if the rated output of the [luminaire] is greater than thirty-two hundred (3,200) lumens. […] (4) Adequate consideration shall be given to conserving energy and minimizing glare and light pollution.” It seems pretty clear that the 2002 Outdoor Lighting Control Act was enacted specifically to prevent the kind of light pollution and energy waste that the Iway bridge is blasting into the night sky over Rhode Island.
Lastly, 2009 has been declared by the United Nations as the International Year of Astronomy. Astronomy clubs, planetariums, and observatories worldwide have increased their efforts to educate the public on matters pertaining to astronomy. Throughout human history, the night sky has created a sense of awe and mystery that has inspired countless generations to admire its beauty and explore its enigmas. It was 400 years ago that Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei first begin to explore the night sky with a telescope and thus began a scientific revolution. The night sky was available to anyone willing to explore it.
Unfortunately, during the past few decades, light pollution has been slowly blotting out more and more of the night sky. What once was considered a problem only in large urban areas has sprawled out to smaller cities, suburbs, and even into rural areas. With the Iway bridge light pillar deliberately pouring many kilowatts of light directly into space, the light pollution in and around Providence has increased significantly. As noted earlier, this effect can be noticed from many miles away, so even the night sky view from areas far from Providence are adversely affected.
I frequently attend the free public observing programs at the Ladd Observatory on Tuesday nights. Ladd happens to be located 1.6 miles north of the Iway bridge, and the effect of the bridge’s lights on the view of the sky from the observatory is vexing. The light pillar can be seen stretching over two-thirds of the way into the sky and nearly obscures everything due south, which is the most important part of the sky for viewing. Because objects in the night sky reach their highest point due south (just as the sun does at midday), they are therefore best positioned for viewing when they pass over due south. However, with the Iway bridge light pillar obscuring the view, the constellations and many telescopic objects that could once be viewed in the south are either severely diminished or no longer visible.
It makes me wonder, with a recent survey finding that Rhode Island students scored embarrassingly low in science aptitude tests, if we weren’t spending so much energy to veil the view of the Universe, would more of Rhode Island’s kids be more curious and inspired to study science and to explore the world and Universe we live in?
Since the Iway bridge light pillar is harmful to our state budget, our environment, obscures our view of the Universe, and does not conform to the 2002 Outdoor Lighting Control Act, I would think it best that the light pillar be replaced by a lighting system more in keeping with our energy and budget-conscious times. Certainly a new lighting system may include lighting for ornamentation as well as for roadway visibility and safety, but any lighting used for decorative purposes does not need to be so excessive and wasteful. I would also urge that the lighting for any and all future projects be designed and implemented with environmental responsibility in mind.
