Dolphin lights installed on Matlacha Bridge
Mike Gordon, a long-time Matlacha resident and member of the Matlacha Civic Association, once again made sure the dolphin lights were hung on Matlacha Bridge in time for holiday.
Saturday morning at 9 sharp, a Lee County Electric Cooperative crew arrived with its truck to install the lights on the bridge.
“This is a wonderful thing to be a part of and a lot of fun,” LCEC worker Bryant Eckman said.
“This is the fifth year in a row that we’ve managed to get these lights up,” Gordon said. “The original dolphin lights were put up by Peg McTee and a couple of other women from Matlacha many years ago.”
Last year due to Hurricane Irma damage and the loss of light poles on the bridge, all of the dolphin lights could not be installed.
“This year we have all of the poles back up and with electric so I’m excited to see them lit up this year,” Gordon said.
“The original lights had to be refurbished,” Gordon said. “Bob McKnight and Gary Walker figured out a way to re-make the dolphin lights by using rope-lights. They completely refurbished them and once again they went up. I want to thank the guys at LCEC. They are always so cooperative.”