Cambridge council approve design for iconic light poles in Dickson Hill area

Those iconic green light fixtures in the Galt area of Cambridge will get some new life, and in some cases, be replaced altogether.

Cambridge council voted unanimously to finalize a design that will help upgrade and replace some of the 245 nine-foot tall green poles with bulb lights in the Dickson Hill Heritage Conservation District area of Cambridge.

They’re a part of Galt’s heritage, originally installed between 1910 and 1914.

City staff have come up with a design that closely matches the original poles in order to maintain heritage and character while also bringing the poles into the 21st century.

In order to be more environmentally friendly, the City of Cambridge will be replacing the yellow-glowing, low-pressure sodium lights with LED lights.

The old 16-inch bulbs will be replaced with new LED bulbs that look nearly-identical.

The Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee stressed the importance of maintaining the iconic look of the old poles.

Staff were able to find a vendor who can create replica aluminum poles in a newly crafted mold.

Unfortunately, the original mold was lost over the years. Staff say they will work to keep better track of any new molds.

The approval of the design has no has direct financial impacts, as staff are still in the process of procuring a vendor to create the poles, and unit pricing cannot be disclosed until that work is completed.

Staff are now finishing up securing the vendor, and plan to have 7 new poles up on Salisbury Ave. by the Spring of 2025.