Center Street Bridge Lighting Project Seeks Money to Finish Job

| June 23, 2017

center st. bridge light projectOIL CITY, Pa. (EYT) – The Oil City Main Street Program and the Oil Region Alliance are gearing up for the final stages of the Center Street Bridge Lighting Project.

Installation is currently underway and will be complete in a few weeks, with an illumination event in the planning stages.

The project involves color-changing LED lights that are being attached to the arches and uprights of the north and south faces of the bridge structure, with a strip of flexible lighting running across the base of the bridge.

The lights can be programmed and changed according to seasons, holidays, or special events.  Snyder Electric of Oil City is handling the installation.

“The total cost of the project is $88,393.58 including design, materials, equipment and labor, and is being funded entirely through various private grants and resources, not municipal funds,” stated Main Street Manager Kathy Bailey.

Ninety-five percent ($83,607.38) of the funds needed have been secured but $4,785.21 is still needed for the installation of the final piece, which is the flexible lighting.

“We have enough in-hand to begin work on the arches and uprights,” Bailey said. “If we hold off on installing the flex lighting, we will have additional costs for upgrading the computerization element. We are optimistic that we have some community-minded folks out there who will contribute to the project within the next few weeks.”

Last fall, the Oil City Main Street Program enlisted the help of additional partners to implement the bridge lighting project.

Kim Harris, Project Manager at The Oil Region Alliance, has been added to oversee the construction details and installation phase.

In November, the Venango County Community Foundation stepped forward to help raise the remaining funds. The foundation is waiving all administrative fees for Center Street Bridge Lighting Project, so that 100 percent of all donations will go to the project.

Interested individuals may donate to this unique project by donating online at: www.bbcf.org and specifying “Center Street Bridge Lighting” or by sending a check to Bridge Builders Community Foundations, 206 Seneca Street, Oil City, PA 16301. Please note “Center Street Bridge Lighting” in the memo line of check.

A family-friendly illumination event is in the planning stages for sometime this summer.

“We are working on a ‘bridge party’ of sorts to celebrate the completion and officially light up the bridge,” Bailey said. “The Center Street Bridge is a distinctive historic structure in our downtown. The lights will highlight the architectural details and illuminate an important gateway into downtown Oil City. We think it’s something that the Oil City community will really be proud of.”

For any questions regarding contributions to this project please call the Venango County Community Foundation at 814-677-8687 or the Oil City Main Street program at 814-677-3152, extension 101.


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Category: Local News, News