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Remember the decorative lights installed on Saskatoon’s Traffic Bridge in 2007 for an eye-popping $462,000?

The controversial lights are being demolished along with the rest of the bridge.

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The programmable LED lights were installed in 2007 and ended up costing more than double what was expected — to the consternation of both politicians and taxpayers.

However, council voted in 2011 not to retain any part of the bridge when it was demolished. It was estimated at the time that replacing the lights or removing them for reuse would cost $375,000 to $500,000.

Photo by Liam Richards / Saskatoon StarPhoenix

The City of Saskatoon’s director of major projects Mike Gutek confirmed today the lights remain on the bridge. The two southernmost spans were removed with explosives in an event that drew an estimated 10,000 spectators Sunday morning.

That demolition included the multi-coloured lights. The owner of a bridge in Borden reported interest in buying the lights in 2012, but did not manage to strike a deal.

The lights attracted controversy from the beginning, both for their expensive price and the feeling by many the LED lights were not spectacular enough. The bridge also closed five times the year after the lights were installed, in order to repair them.

“The whole project was a flop,” Coun. Tiffany Paulsen said in 2007.

The lights were turned off for good in August of 2012 for safety as crews prepared to demolish the southernmost span that passed over Saskatchewan Crescent.

ptank@thestarphoenix.com

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