Ringling Bridge Lit Up To Support Ukraine In Sarasota

SARASOTA, FL — The John Ringling Causeway Bridge was lit up Thursday night “in support of an independent and democratic Ukraine,” the city of Sarasota shared to its Facebook page.

The bridge will be lit up in blue and yellow, the colors of Ukraine’s flag, through the morning of March 10.

The Sunshine Skyway Bridge was also lit up in Ukrainian colors starting Friday night.

Mayor Erik Arroyo requested the color scheme for the Ringling Bridge to support Ukraine during the Russian invasion in a letter sent to the Florida Department of Transportation District One Secretary L.K. Nandam on Wednesday. He initially requested that the bridge be lit for 12 consecutive days from March 2 to 13.

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In an email to Patch, Andy Orrell, director of communications for FDOT’s District One, said that the agency has an agreement with the city regarding the lighting of the bridge.

“Under our agreement with the City of Sarasota, the Florida Department of Transportation, District One, will change the colors of the lights on the Ringling Bridge to meet the City’s ongoing requests, assuming the lighting system has the technical capacity to accommodate what they want, for seven days from when the change is made. The choice and design of the colors being displayed is made by the city of Sarasota,” Orrell said.

Last June, FDOT initially rejected the city’s request to light the Ringing Bridge in rainbow lighting for LGBTQ Pride month. State transportation officials with the agency reversed their decision, though, and the bridge was lit up to recognize Pride during the last week in June.