Hernando DeSoto bridge to get LED treatment

MEMPHIS, TN (WMC) - The Mississippi River will soon get even brighter in Memphis.

The group that decked out the Harahan Bridge in multi-colored lights announced that the Hernando DeSoto bridge will get the same treatment later this year.

The outdated lights on the bridge will be taken down next month and replaced with high-tech, color changing LEDs.

The Big River Crossing light show will soon echo across the river with lights dancing on the Hernando DeSoto Bridge.

"It's pretty dynamic," said George Monger with Memphis Bridge Lighting Inc. "There is really an opportunity with lighting each of the cables, with lighting the entire structure."

Endless options to illuminate the bridge with dynamic colors and pattern designs.

Switching out the lightbulbs for LEDs is a $14 million project with money that came as a gift to City of Memphis through private donations.

The Mighty Lights project will be done in phases starting Monday, June 4, never leaving the north bookend bridge completely dark.

"We take pride in making something that all of Memphis can enjoy," Monger said.

Just like the Big River Crossing display, the light show will begin on the I-40 'M' bridge at sundown with a show at the top of the hour, every hour until 11 p.m.

"As we look to the third century of Memphis it's just a great time for us to really celebrate what we are doing as a community," Monger said.

The two bridges will soon be lighting up the Memphis sky with coordinated shows.

The project will be finished in time for October's River Arts Fest.

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