Bay Bridge's Famed Bay Lights to Shine Again After $11M Restoration

The iconic light display will be relighted in a ceremony on March 20th after years of being dark.

Mar. 18, 2026 at 2:22am by Ben Kaplan

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After being dark for several years, the famed Bay Lights display on the San Francisco Bay Bridge is set to be relighted following an $11 million restoration project. The original 40,000-bulb installation, created by artist Leo Villareal, became a global sensation when it debuted in 2013, but was turned off in 2023 due to environmental wear. Now, the lights are being replaced with 48,000 individual LED lights across the two-mile western span of the bridge, 500 feet above the water.

Why it matters

The Bay Lights have become an iconic part of San Francisco's identity and skyline, drawing global attention and serving as a source of community pride and wonder. The restoration project aims to bring back this beloved landmark that many locals consider an integral part of the city's character and identity.

The details

The $11 million restoration project was privately funded and overseen by CalTrans veteran Bart Ney, who has worked on the Bay Bridge for 20 years. The new LED installation, designed by artist Leo Villareal, features 48,000 individual lights across the two-mile western span of the bridge, 500 feet above the water. Villareal says the new lights will "provoke a sense of wonder and awe" and "dazzle people" just as the original display did.

  • The original Bay Lights were first introduced in 2013.
  • The lights were turned off in 2023 due to environmental wear.
  • The $11 million restoration project began shortly after the lights were turned off.
  • An official ceremony will be held on March 20, 2026 to relight the Bay Lights.

The players

Bart Ney

A 30-year veteran of CalTrans who has focused much of his career on the Bay Bridge, including working on the construction of the new eastern span.

Leo Villareal

The artist behind the original Bay Lights installation, who also designed the new $11 million LED display.

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What they’re saying

“The original Bay Lights were such a hit globally. We had media from all over the world doing stories on the Bay Lights, kind of putting the Bay Bridge kind of back in everybody's view.”

— Bart Ney, CalTrans veteran (CBS News Bay Area)

“The exciting thing for me is that the way it provokes a sense of wonder and awe. It just dazzles people and people can't help but talk to one another.”

— Leo Villareal, Artist (CBS News Bay Area)

What’s next

An official ceremony will be held on March 20, 2026 to officially relight the Bay Lights display on the San Francisco Bay Bridge.

The takeaway

The restoration of the iconic Bay Lights display is a testament to the enduring appeal and community significance of this beloved San Francisco landmark. After years in the dark, the return of the lights will once again captivate locals and visitors alike, reinforcing the Bay Area's reputation for innovative public art and lighting installations.