The famous San Diego-Coronado Bridge turns 50 in 2019, and such an important birthday can only be celebrated with bright lights, according to the San Diego Unified Port District, who approved a new policy this Thursday that aims to raise $8 million in order to reinvigorate a construction project to install changing color LEDs along the whole span of the bridge.

This policy will allow developers of projects costing over $5 million to give all or part of the 1 percent that must be directed at public arts towards the lights project, and according to Merrifield, there are enough projects in the works to cover the full cost of the bridge.

Among the different projects that could help the cause is a dry dock construction by BAE Systems, a second Lane Field Hotel, and a billion dollar redevelopment of Seaport Village and Harbor Island car rental lots.

Chairman Marshall Merrifield said the delays on such project are an aftermath of the recession, when port finances were low and construction wasn't an option. "I think it's time to bring this project off the shelf", he added. Likewise, port art curator Yvonne Wise said that Peter Fink, the original designer for the project, is ready to start working on the project as soon as funding is available.

Fink, a British artist, first proposed the bridge project almost 10 years ago in a design competition, seeking to bathe the piers in automatically changing colored lights from low-energy, eco-friendly LED bulbs.

Despite excitement for the project, the port has only put together $75,000 for it, despite having $1.2 million in unspent art funds. Commissioner Dan Malcolm said, "I think this board should full-throated get behind it and get it done", while Commissioner Bob Nelson suggested a "signature donor" who could help filling in funding gaps.

Finally, Merrifield added, "as we drop the green flag today on this, I would encourage staff to make fund-raising visits to see what we can do quickly."

Via The San Diego Union-Tribune