A key objective point of Operation Market Garden during World War II, the John
Frost Bridge is one of three bridges in the city of Arnhem, Netherlands, and serves
as a central connection to the city across the Lower Rhine River. The bridge is
named after British Major-General John Dutton Frost, who commanded the Allied
forces that defended the bridge during the Battle of Arnhem. In celebration of the
bridge’s world-renowned history, the city commissioned Netherlands-based lighting
integrator and Harman distributor Fairlight BV to illuminate the bridge in 2004.
Eleven years after the initial install, Fairlight BV was brought back to retrofit the
design with more energy- and cost-efficient lighting fixtures from Martin
Professional.

Fairlight BV faced two main challenges during the installation. The first was the
location of the fixtures. Due to the bridge’s architecture and the surrounding area it
was very difficult to reach the areas where the fixtures are installed. Therefore the
company brought in large cranes to swap out the lights. The second challenge was
the limited amount of time Fairlight BV had to complete the retrofit before a city-
wide Memorial Day celebration.

In the initial design and install in 2004, the company used Martin’s Exterior 200 and
600 fixtures to light the bridge. Satisfied with the durability and quality of Martin’s
Exterior line, Fairlight retrofitted the fixtures with 12 of Martin’s Exterior 400 and
ten Exterior 410s – the latest in the line.

Bram Adams, Sales Manager has been with Fairlight BV for more than eight years.
“The city wanted to save money on power and service. The 400s and 410s more
than met those requirements. They use LED technology that increases energy
efficiency and ensures a longer working period with minimal maintenance needs,’
he said.

The design is broken into three main sections: the stanchions and supports along
the bridge, the bottom section of the bridge and the pillars on which the bridge
stands. Each light in the design can be controlled separately, allowing for any
section of the bridge to be lit in different colours. The lighting system is pre-
programmed to reflect different seasons and special occasions throughout the year
with a range of colours.

Fairlight used a mix of several lenses to create the desired lighting effects. The
company also took special care to ensure the surrounding buildings were not
splashed with excess light and that the light was evenly thrown across the driving
lanes for safety.

“Fairlight BV has a long and successful track record with Martin Professional. Their
products are always high quality and their service is impeccable. The Martin fixtures
were the perfect choice to light the bridge 11 years ago and they remain the best
choice today,’ Adams concluded.