Tbilisi's Peace Bridge: spectacular night lights

The Bridge of Peace, Tbilisi’s ultra-modern pedestrian walkway, is a fascinating structure of glass and iron. It connects the ancient city of Tbilisi—now a growing suburb of cafes, restaurants, tourist shops, and art galleries—to the new district (to-be-developed) across the Mt’k’vari River.

Italian architect, Michele De Lucchi, and French lighting director, Philippe Martinaud, created an 150 metre bridge, not merely as an architecture of engineering, but also as a piece of artwork. Constructed in Italy, it was transported to Tbilisi in 200 trucks. As the bridge was being assembled, the lighting was erected on sight. The Peace Bridge emits universal messages of peace in Morse code via 30,000 white light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and 240 sensors. These are mounted on the steel framework that supports the green-tinged roof, or canopy. On the parapets on each side of the bridge (the low walls), additional LEDs are mounted in a grid pattern.

During the day, the bridge is serene and calming, but at night, it is an awesome illumination of majestic proportions. The messages of peace in Morse code appear from the parapets as the lights radiate like dots. The lights are controlled by motion sensors. Thus the lights are in constant motion, sending patterns up and down the bridge, then altogether in an intense bright glow, and then suddenly and briefly dark. There are four different lighting patterns that strobe the canopy every hour. One pattern bedecks the top canopy and twinkles like distant stars.

As a constant bridge tourist-pedestrian, I re-visited it on the Easter weekend. Opened on May 6, 2010, it was designed to connect the right bank (Old Tbilisi) with the left bank. The left bank is under road construction and land renovation, expected to take ten years to complete, culminating in prime commercial and residential buildings. The first stages are expected to be functioning this year, with the upper embankment expected to open, in phases, from 2012. To be known as Riverside Plaza or Tbilisi’s Left Bank, it is planned to serve a number of functions: as a barricade for the noise and fumes of the traffic; as a link to the river; and as an urban public space. The master plan for the new area comprises two levels, or terraces.

Currently pedestrians can amble on the Peace Bridge to view the city’s night lights, but cannot cross to the other side of the river – it is closed to pedestrian traffic at the left bank side, at the commencement of the steps descending to the river. The barrier will be lifted when the lower embankment, or terrace, of the left bank is opened. It is due to open soon - on May 26, 2011 – to mark the Day of Independence.

MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of:- The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).