Project Story: Boulevard du Séminaire Underpass
Boulevard du Séminaire is a busy 4-lane divided roadway in the city of St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. It is a main artery running north/south and at the junction of Highway 35 the boulevard passes underneath the highway.
Lighting was not originally specified when the highway underpass was built; the tunnel was short enough to provide sufficient natural light for drivers travelling in either direction. However, the roadway is flanked with sidewalks and a cycle path, and over time it became evident that significant pedestrian and cyclist traffic warranted a look at night time safety for these users.
The Public Works department for the City of St-Jean-sur-Richelieu approached Concept Illumination to determine the most effective lighting solution for the underpass. It was important to the city that LEDs were used to minimize maintenance and energy costs. And because the underpass is below a busy highway, there is a lot of vibration from the traffic above; a robust solution was needed.
The team at Concept Illumination knew from experience that tunnel lighting offers some unique challenges. For vehicles, safety is paramount: the solution has to eliminate the glare going from outside to inside, and then coming out of it again on the other side. Twelve 100W floodlights were installed (6 in the northbound lanes and 6 in the south). At 4000K they are a very crisp white, providing sufficient lighting to ensure a safe passage for the pedestrians and cyclists without the risk of excessive glare to vehicles driving beside them.
The physical confines of the tunnel itself meant that the lighting fixtures had to be resistant to corrosion. Dirt build-up, salt, water, ice and snow all had to be considered. Concept Illumination’s solution was IP68 luminaires made from marine grade aluminum with stainless steel mounting brackets to further combat potential corrosion and rust.
The city of St-Jean-sur-Richelieu is extremely pleased with the results. The busy Boulevard du Séminaire underpass is outfitted with sturdy LED fixtures that are resistant to vibration, rust and corrosion over the long term. The lighting is easy to maintain and the community now has a well-lit safe pathway for pedestrians and cyclists travelling through the city corridor.
