SAN FRANCISCO—It's beautiful no matter how you look at it, but the Bay Bridge can now be seen in a better light.

The California Department of Transportation (CALTRANS) recently completed its LED lighting overhaul to the East Span of the iconic San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge. After three years of testing and designing custom fixtures, Musco Lighting provided an energy-efficient LED lighting solution featuring Cree Xlamp, XM-L LEDs to illuminate the picturesque suspension tower and bridge deck. In total, the bridge now employs nearly 1,600 custom-built LED light fixtures leveraging more than 51,500 high-performance LEDs, lighting the entire East Span at an estimated energy savings of 50% and lifetime of 15 years — more than seven times longer than previously deployed lighting technologies.

“We wanted the East Span of the Bay Bridge to not only be aesthetically pleasing, but also cost-effective and functional for travelers,” said Andrew Fremier, deputy executive director at Bay Area Toll Authority. “The new LED lighting solution by Musco using Cree's LED technology truly improves the way residents and visitors experience the Bay Bridge, providing crisp, brilliant light for all who cross it, while delivering energy efficiency and payback for years.”