Bay Bridge Lights to Sparkle Tonight

Display is sure to be a new tourist attraction for people across the Bay Area and around the world in the coming months

A light sculpture made up of 25,000 LED lights strung along the  western span of the Bay Bridge will be turned on tonight after months of  preparation.

The privately funded $8 million project known as "The Bay Lights"  will be switched on at about 9 p.m. today following an invitation-only event  in San Francisco, according to spokeswoman Barbara Zamost.

Mayor Ed Lee and Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom are among the dignitaries  expected to attend the event, as is artist Leo Villareal, who designed and  oversaw the installation of the light sculpture and will turn it on from a  computer, Zamost said.

The lights will not be visible to drivers on the Bay Bridge but  can be seen from a distance. They are mounted on the vertical cables of the  bridge and will be on for about seven hours each night, according to  organizers.

The lights, which began being installed last fall, will remain on  the bridge for two years.

Organizers are still trying to raise about $2 million in what  Zamost called "finishing funds" for the project.

People can donate and also watch a webcast of tonight's lighting  ceremony on the project's website at www.thebaylights.org.

 It will be a rainy debut. The rain is expected to start falling in San Francisco at 7 p.m. and last through the night.
 
 
 
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