Stretching over two miles across the St. Johns River, the Napoleon Bonaparte Broward Bridge—locally known as the Dames Point Bridge—is one of Jacksonville’s most recognizable landmarks and one of the largest cable-stayed concrete bridges in the United States. Standing 471 feet tall with a unique "harp" cable stay design, the structure serves as a critical maritime shipping corridor and a vital artery for regional Interstate 295 traffic. To transform this massive engineering feat into a striking visual gateway for the city at night, Our team was selected by FDOT to execute a complex, full-scale decorative up-lighting, navigational, and aviation electrical installation on the structure.
Performing high-voltage specialized electrical installations on an active, elevated cable-stayed bridge over a busy commercial shipping channel presented extreme operational and technical demands like working hundreds of feet in the air along the vertical concrete towers and over water. Marine humidity and salt spray required high-grade, IP-rated weatherproofing and ruggedized electrical conduit to prevent premature corrosion. Our team needed to install accent lighting that highlights the bridge’s massive 471-foot pylon towers and intricate cable stays without creating blinding glare for oncoming I-295 motorists or maritime vessel captains below.
Our team deployed a specialized crew of transportation electrical technicians and field engineers to execute a multi-faceted lighting upgrade across the entire bridge structure. We installed powerful, precision-aimed LED accent up-lighting at the base and along the vertical faces of the bridge towers, casting dramatic light up the concrete pylons and cable stays to transform the structure into a soaring nocturnal skyline feature. We outfitted the lower bridge superstructure and fender systems with high-visibility, marine-grade LED navigation lights, ensuring clear, safe passage for deep-draft cargo ships navigating the St. Johns River channel. During the process we modernized high-intensity obstruction lights at the top of the 471-foot towers to maintain strict FAA compliance for regional airspace safety.
Our team successfully delivered a state-of-the-art lighting transformation that enhances both the functional safety and aesthetic beauty of Northeast Florida’s infrastructure. The high-efficiency up-lighting system turned an iconic piece of civil engineering into a stunning nighttime visual landmark for the City of Jacksonville.
