LED Underlighting Added to Fort Avenue Bridge Over Key Highway
On March 10th, new lights were turned on for the ‘Fort Avenue Bridge Underlighting of the Key Highway Beautification Project’ in Locust Point. This project was undertaken by the Key Highway Community Association (KHCA).
The Fort Avenue Bridge goes over Key Hwy. in between McHenry Row and the Foundry on Fort Avenue. The bridge now has LED underlighting that is visible from Key Hwy. The lights, which can change colors for different occasions, are currently lit blue and yellow in support of Ukraine.
KHCA raised $120,ooo through fundraising in 2013 to beautify Key Hwy. It hired architecture firm Ayers Saint Gross to come up with beautification projects between Rusty Scupper and the I-95 exit.
The first project KHCA wanted to move forward on was the underlighting of the bridge. The association spent recent years working with Baltimore City Department of Transportation, former Mayor Jack Young’s office, Baltimore Gas & Electric, Merritt Properties (which owns the Foundry on Fort Avenue), and lighting and sign company Gable to get the project moving.
KHCA President Janan Broadbent said she worked as the project manager to get this project to the finish line. She credited Councilman Eric Costello for helping out with every step and delay.
KHCA budgeted $140,000 for the project and said it will cost about $100 per month moving forward for maintenance. The association will look for businesses to support future costs of the lighting project.
Broadbent said the bridge will be lit orange for Orioles Opening Day and purple for Ravens games, as well as different colors throughout the year.
KHCA is also hoping to raise money to add “By the dawn’s early light” above the mural on Key Hwy. This idea, which came from Ayers Saint Gross’ plan, is a play off of American Visionary Art Museum’s “Oh say can you see” sign on the side of its building.
The bridge is now lit every night, but KHCA will be hosting an official event in the near future to celebrate the completion of the project.
Photo courtesy of Key Highway Community Association
Rendering from Ayers Saint Gross
About the Author: Kevin Lynch
Founder and Publisher of SouthBmore.com, longtime resident of South Baltimore, and a graduate of Towson University. Diehard Ravens and O's fan, father of three, amateur pizza chef, skateboarder, and "bar food" foodie. Email me at Kevin@InceptMM.com and follow me on Twitter at @SoBoKevin.
