What happened to the LED lights that were being tested on the west side of the Interstate 10 Calcasieu River bridge? I noticed this morning that the only ones still working were the couple mounted directly to the bridge structure at the top.

One of the units in the recently installed experimental five-luminaire LED array fell victim to vibrations from traffic, said Deidra Druilhet, a state Department of Transportation and Development spokeswoman.

“DOTD understands it is important to the community, but the system has to be able to hold up under extreme vibration,” she wrote in an email. “The Department will continue to work with the city on alternative solutions.”

Traffic-induced vibrations have repeatedly shortened the lifespans of the bulbs used on the bridge, foiling state and municipal officials’ attempts to maintain the system. Officials had hoped that the LEDs, installed late last year, would solve the problem.

The bridge, which was completed in 1952, was designed so that vehicle headlights would provide sufficient illumination. Still, the state transportation department installed a lighting system — using state and federal money — on the span about 40 years ago.

“What are the possibilities of having lights installed on the Interstate 10 bridge over the Calcasieu River for better visibility at night?” a reader asked The Informer in December 1970.

“Mayor James E. Sudduth reported about 30 days ago that the Louisiana Highway Department advised him that planning to light Interstate 10 would be completed in about 90 days. …” the column replied.

“A new type of interstate lighting, utilizing towers, will be used, he said. The stretch of highway to be lighted runs from the western end of the bridge to Kayouche Coulee.”

That question and response came four years after someone asked The Informer why the highway itself lacked lights and three or so years before someone else asked if the I-210 bridge would, like the I-10 span, be lighted.

The original lighting system on the Calcasieu River bridge used mercury vapor lights of various sizes. It was upgraded in the mid-1980s to use high-pressure sodium lamps.

Online: www.dotd.la.gov.

The Informer answers questions from readers each Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. It is researched and written by Andrew Perzo, an American Press staff writer. To ask a question, call 494-4098, press 5 and leave voice mail, or email informer@americanpress.com

(American Press Archives)