Here's why Southwest Freeway's colorful bridges are no longer lit up

The beloved lights on the bridges hanging over U.S. 59 have gone dark once again thanks to a legal dispute. The beloved lights on the bridges hanging over U.S. 59 have gone dark once again thanks to a legal dispute. Photo: Jon Shapley, Staff Photo: Jon Shapley, Staff Image 1 of / 92 Caption Close Here's why Southwest Freeway's colorful bridges are no longer lit up 1 / 92 Back to Gallery

The colorful lights have gone out on seven bridge arches over U.S. 59 thanks to a ongoing legal dispute.

The lights were shut off Thursday after the Montrose Management District declined to be pay the three-months late $1,400 electricity bill for the lights.

The district is currently being sued by property owners who want the Montrose Management District dissolved. Commercial property owners in the district are assessed at a rate of 12.5 cents for every $100 of property value.

READ MORE: Montrose Management District ends neighborhood services

Originally, the lights were added in 2001 as part of a U.S. 59 freeway widening project. Despite the admiration from drivers and nearby residents, the lights literally burned out in less than a year and the project fell into disrepair.

To get them back, the Montrose Management District, Texas Department of Transportation and Houston-Galveston Area Council split the cost of about $2 million.

Fernando Alfonso III is a digital reporter at Chron.com. Follow him on twitter at @fernalfonso.