HIGHLAND – Now that the conversion of lighting to LEDs on the Mid-Hudson Bridge is complete, the New York State Bridge Authority’s two northern-most bridges will now be changed.
The authority’s board Thursday approved the conversion of lighting on the Kingston-Rhinecliff and Rip Van Winkle bridges. Authority Executive Director Joseph Ruggiero said those two projects will save the agency up to $68,000 a year in energy costs and the payback period for the initial investment is only about six months.
Working with Central Hudson Energy and Lime Energy, energy efficiency experts that coordinate the program for utility companies, the Bridge Authority expects to complete the installation o the new LED fixtures over the summer.
Ruggiero said the Authority will replace 10 exterior building mounted lights, 18 high mast lights and 108 street lights at the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge. The Authority will save more than $19,000 by using its own staff to do the work so the project will only cost a little more than $25,000. Savings at that bridge are expected to be about $47,000 per year.
At the Rip Van Winkle Bridge, the Authority will install 14 building mounted lights and 63 street lights. It will save a little over $11,000 by doing the installation work itself. The cost of the lights is $11,000 and the annual savings is expected to be about $21,000.
