SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Electrical issues plague Sacramento’s prominent Tower Bridge landmark, casting darkness over its east tower at night.
The lights on the east side of the structure closest to Sacramento are out due to ongoing electrical issues with the main uphaul cables, according to CalTrans spokesman Dennis Keaton. A couple of lights are also out on the west side closer to West Sacramento in Yolo County due to ballast issues, he said.
The outage has continued for about three weeks. Keaton said the bridge’s electrical system is over 50 years old, and California’s transportation department is waiting on the parts to fix it.
“We are aware of the issue and trying to evaluate the fix for this, short term versus an eventual long-term overhaul…possibly going to an LED light system,” he told ABC10 on Monday.
Keaton said repairs are in the planning phase, but Caltrans expects to get the lights back on by Thursday.
The lights are crucial for the visibility of motorists and boaters, but since some lighting is still functioning, Keaton said the issues are not creating a hazard.
The Tower Bridge connects the cities of Sacramento and West Sacramento and stands over the Sacramento River. The artery is considered its own California roadway: State Route 275.
At 738 feet long, it is the shortest highway in the state, according to the California Highways website.
