When the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) wanted to erect a new pedestrian bridge crossing Interstate 4 at Maitland Boulevard, it had two primary criteria in mind: First, the bridge had to be highly functional, and second, it needed to appear aesthetically pleasing at night. Ultimately, the I-4 bridge project became a reality to create a safer and more convenient route for pedestrians and bicyclists to cross the busy highway. It also became an attractive addition to the cityscape in the construction process.
The bridge connects existing sidewalks along Wymore Road and Lake Destiny Drive, providing a 12-foot-wide, 700-foot-long walkway over the interstate. It connects Maitland’s east-west trail from the Dommerich neighborhood on the city’s east side to Fennell Park on the west. The route extends past all three public schools in Maitland: Orangewood Presbyterian School, the Maitland Community Park, Lake Destiny Soccer fields, and the Keller Road Baseball Complex.
In total, 18 different structural pieces weighing more than 270 tons connect the bridge across I-4. Benches and bike racks are located on both sides of the bridge to give bicyclists and pedestrians space to rest while overlooking the interstate.
Eastbound and westbound motorists are greeted with an iconic bridge design accentuated by a blue wave of fencing and white backlit letters that spell out “Maitland.” The mid-span pylons that reach 45 feet above the bridge are highlighted by inlaid variable-color LED rings topped by glass lanterns. The pylons feature high-power, color-changing DynaGraze HO Exterior DMX LED outdoor linear fixtures from Acclaim Lighting. Available in 1- and 4-foot sections, the fixtures offer multiple configurations, including RGB, RGBW, and Dynamic White, for dramatic color combinations.
Built to last with a robust IP66 housing and featuring a multi-voltage switching power supply and optional glare control, the DynaGraze HO Exterior DMX fixtures were well suited to this outdoor linear grazing application. The LED fixtures feature high color saturation and dynamic programming capabilities. They will maintain 70 percent of their lumens for 150,000 hours, ensuring a safe environment for pedestrians for many years while providing a colorful and vibrant focal point in the city’s skyline.
For trace and the city color lighting, FDOT specified Flex Spectrum Exterior, an IP68-rated, RGBW flexible LED circuit strip. It is designed to offer a wide range of colors to choose from in applications where both color and dedicated white are required. By mixing blue with 3000K inside the quad-color diode, Flex Spectrum Exterior can deliver a range from 3000K–7000K, while maintaining CRI above 80.
The LED circuit strip is supported by the AL Driver 800, a multi-protocol, 800W driver for low-voltage LED products. The input control protocols include DMX, RDM, 0–10V, and DALI; it also includes 24V DC/PWM output. AL Drive 800 provides maximum flexibility with front-end control preferences. The Flex Spectrum Exterior with AL-800 LED Drivers were also used to illuminate the city name.
In addition, 4-foot Pixel Graze fixtures were used for wall washing, while Dyna Drum SO Color with Pixel Graze was specified for each of the lantern lights, comprising five fixtures. Pixel Graze is a high power, indoor/outdoor LED fixture with quad-color spectrum or dynamic white options. Available in 1- and 4-foot sections, it features a compact profile and offers high-quality color mixing and saturation.
Dyna Drum SO Color was also used for the downtown viaduct girder lighting. With its adjustable yoke, on-board digital display, and a 100–277VAC internal power supply, it is ideal for facade lighting applications and as an area floodlight.
Meanwhile, AL Dot AC, a direct view, RDM/DMX node, designed for low-resolution graphics displays and individual dots of color, serves as the flyover bridge’s necklace lights. It features an internal DMX+ AC driver and all-aluminum construction to complete the look of the bridge and surrounding area. Snoots and glare shields were incorporated for the floodlights and linear luminaires to mask the light sources along the pedestrian paths, ensuring visual comfort and safety, according to Acclaim Lighting general manager Michael Giardina.
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