New lighting fixtures installed at the Gateway Arch will debut Tuesday night. The $1 million project will also help migrating birds.
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The new lighting system at the Gateway Arch will debut Tuesday evening illuminating the national monument for the first time in a month and a half.
A $1 million effort of the Gateway Foundation, the enhanced fixtures are far more efficient, requiring only 1,200 watts per unit as compared to the previous units at 7,000 each. This change will reduce energy consumption by 60% while directing more light onto the Arch itself.
It’s also bird-friendly. In the past, the Arch spotlights would be turned off to avoid confusion of migrating birds. With this the Arch will appear brighter while reducing flare in the night skies, an important element for protecting the birds making their way through the Mississippi Flyway, a major migration highway.
The system also includes the ability to program the lights which will now be lit gradually from bottom to top over about 30 seconds.
The new lights are expected to debut at sunset and Gateway Arch National Park will be open for visitors to see the new display firsthand. Great views can also be seen in the Gateway Mall from Kiener Plaza and City Garden.
