Bay Bridge Lights Return This Weekend

If you’ve missed the stunning beauty of the Bay Lights, the LED light installation on the Bay Bridge, your wait is over - they will be turned back on permanently Saturday night.

The Bay Lights was originally supposed to be a two year art installation. However, the lights were so popular that they will now become a permanent fixture.

Turning it into a permanent feature was a daunting task. Two miles worth of electric cable and lights had to be removed, rebuilt with more durable materials and reinstalled.

“The improvements to the installation really have to do with durability,” said Ben Davis of Illuminate the Arts told KPIX. “The Bay is a very harsh environment for electronics.”

“You know when we launched the Bay Lights originally it was in the middle of a giant tempest and rainstorm,” said Bay Lights artist Leo Villareal.

The artist has re-programmed the lights, so even if you’ve spent hours mesmerized by the previous installation, you’ll see something new.

Saturday’s unveiling is timed to kick-off Super Bowl events in the Bay Area. “It’s a cultural moment, the Super Bowl, and it’s a big thing for the Bay Area,” Villareal said.

And if you’re wondering how may light bulbs it takes to illuminate the Bay Lights. The answer: 25,000.