Wabash Lights to switch on Thursday for 6-12 months of testing

ART & ARCHITECTURE

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2-Feb-16 - It was not quite ready for testing in early January like they thought it would be, but the men behind The Wabash Lights project say Thursday is the day they will throw a switch and four 12-foot LED fixtures will light up the underside of the Wabash L tracks between Monroe and Adams Streets.

The lights will stay on for at least six months, according to Jack Newell and Seth Unger, during which time they will troubleshoot technical, design, and safety issues.

The fixtures were installed last Monday and Tuesday. A photo released by Newell and Unger show the lights being tested on January 26.

42nd Ward Alderman Brendan Reilly called the project, first imagined four years ago, "a collision of cutting-edge LED technology and public art."

"With all of the changes coming to the Loop elevated tracks in this area," said Reilly, "I believe Wabash Lights is a great opportunity for Chicago to further improve the Loop experience."

Newell and Unger say they have raised $59,480 from 918 investors but will need $5 million over the next five years. Eventually, they want the lights to span two city blocks and be programmable by visitors to a website and users of a mobile app.