LiteSheet’s Monitor-Merrimac Tunnel AC-Direct LED Lighting Retrofit Touts 100% Success with Zero Failures After First Year of Installation

Jan. 20, 2020

Forest, VA –After over one year of operation, LiteSheet Solutions’ 1500 roadway and tunnel ETL approved LED retrofit luminaires have survived and passed every operational challenge including high power wash downs, three tunnel fires, a minor earthquake and power interruptions in Virginia’s 4.6 mile Monitor-Merrimack Tunnel.

“Virginia’s DOT had been conducting trials on a wide variety of conventional DC LED fixtures, but saw an increased failure rate because of LED/COB (chip on board) and power supply failures,” said Roger Whyte, President and CEO of LiteSheet Solutions, “Our AC-Direct LED solution offered a zero-failure rate solution which has stood the test of time.”

The LiteSheet LED retrofit kits save money, time, energy and lives and, over the past year, have withstood the onslaught of a number of operational and natural challenges. The Virginia DOT moved forward with LiteSheet LED AC-Direct lighting to retrofit the 4.6 mile Monitor-Merrimac Bridge Tunnel, north and south bound tunnel bores, that has been using traditional low efficiency, high power HID bulbs and ballasts to light the commute of nearly 3 million drivers each month. This four-lane, dual-tunnel system connects the Virginia Peninsula cities of Newport News and Hampton to the South Hampton Roads cities of Suffolk and Chesapeake.

Over 1500 LiteSheet “easy install” 80W and 160W retrofit kits have been installed in both the north and south bores.  The retrofit operation was done seamlessly, at night, with minimum lane closures and little commuter interruption.  Because of the LiteSheet fixtures easy “plug and play” installation, only alternative lane closures were necessary at low traffic times with limited traffic disruption.

LiteSheet’s retrofit kits consume 1/3 of the power needed by traditional HID’s.  Light levels in the tunnel have increased by 3 times resulting in significant improvements in safety particularly in “accident zones” and in the “transition areas of the tunnel” due to improved visibility. 

 “The results of the Monitor-Merrimac Tunnel retrofit are remarkable,” said Whyte, “With little or no traffic interruptions, zero fixture failures and improved light and visibility, LiteSheet’s AC-Direct LED products are ideal solutions for high traffic, difficult to maintain environments like tunnels and bridges.” 

Take a look at the imbedded video and experience the increase in light levels and light quality as you drive through the tunnel before and after the Virginia DOT re-lighting project.

View here:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XQN-C6cJ4s

Backed by an industry leading 15-year non-prorated warranty, LiteSheet’s products are manufactured in the USA and deliver 50+ years of life and extremely low maintenance.

About LiteSheet Solutions  

LiteSheet Solutions, LLC is the Adaptive AC LED Technology company that develops and commercializes products for the commercial and industrial lighting market. The company combines extensive knowledge of lighting technologies and manufacturing processes to create highly efficient lighting with reduced production costs resulting in the most economical, environmentally friendly, and sustainable LED lighting available. 

Roger Whyte

LiteSheet Solutions

(434) 825.5064

[email protected]                                                                               

Contact:

Jon Di Gesu                

LiteSheet Solutions                   

(603) 770.5731                                                                                              

Email:

[email protected]

Web site:

www.litesheet.com