Columbus officials want to brighten Columbus’ Front Door by relighting the Second Street Bridge and installing new lights on the Interstate 65 span over Jonathan Moore Pike.

When the Second Street Bridge, which forms the gateway to the city’s downtown, opened in 1999, its cable and upper structure were brightly illuminated at night by powerful arc lights placed at sidewalk level.

That nighttime illumination, coupled with the panoramic view of the downtown centered on the Bartholomew County Courthouse, quickly established the bridge as one of the most popular architectural landmarks in the city.

Unfortunately, the bridge was darkened a few years after the 1999 opening by vandals who seriously damaged the lighting system placed alongside a pedestrian walkway.

Proposals to brighten Columbus’ Front Door will be presented to the Columbus Redevelopment Commission at its 6 p.m. Monday meeting.

Columbus City Engineer David Hayward said that the proposals were in the preliminary stage and that cost estimates ultimately would be based upon the choices made by the city from a variety of options presented by several suppliers and contractors.

Mayor Kristen Brown directed Hayward to look into the matter and collect estimates.

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