Relighting Harstine Island Bridge

The PUD Commissioners approved and the Mason County Board of Commissioners signed an Interlocal Agreement for Harstine Island Bridge Lighting Refurbish in May. The County is actively working towards a project that will rehabilitate the bridge surface and extend its useful life. The 11 lights on Harstine Island Bridge have been out of service for a very long time. PUD 3’s expertise in the installation and maintenance of street lighting set us up well to partner with Mason County to restore and improve the bridge’s overhead lighting as they move forward with their bridge rehabilitation project.

The interlocal agreement provides for PUD 3 to replace electrical wiring, secure pull box access, install bird spikes, and replace non-functioning HPS lights with energy efficient, directional, LED lights. In return, Mason County would be enrolled in the same low daily rate offered to all outdoor lighting customers through PUD 3’s Rate Schedule 41, which includes installation, materials, energy, and maintenance costs, which is a long-term revenue benefit for PUD 3.

When two public entities make agreements like this, it must be completed through an “interlocal agreement.” Previously the lights were on a metered service owned by Mason County. Through the agreement, the PUD will convert the lights to an unmetered service and bring the non-functioning and neglected electrical infrastructure up to acceptable standards. The agreement defines ownership of the conductor and lights (PUD) and the conduit and poles (Mason County). It also waives permit fees associated with the project and establishes the lights in Schedule 41.

Mason County has also requested additional LED street lights to be added to the approaches to the bridge on both the island and mainland, which we are addressing under the standard Street Lighting Request process.

One of the reasons the lights were turned off was due to light pollution. Residents on the island were concerned with the glare of the lights throughout the night. The benefits of using newer technology utilizing LED street and area lights includes the following: improved night visibility due to higher color rendering, higher color temperature and increased illuminance uniformity; significantly longer lifespan; lower energy consumption; reduced maintenance costs; instant-on with no run-up or re-strike delays; no mercury, lead or other known disposable hazards; lower environmental footprint; highly directional fixtures, which direct the light output onto the roadway, where it is desired, which cuts down on light pollution; and an opportunity to implement programmable controls, e.g., bilevel lighting.

The cost benefit to the County is another factor. The LED lights rate on Schedule 41 will be less than the metered rate the County paid for the lights previously. This is due to the energy efficiency of the LED technology.

The PUD is proud to be a community partner in this way - enhancing public safety and helping in the preservation of the Harstine Island bridge.