Bay Lights to return for Super Bowl 50 festivities

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Wednesday, January 20, 2016
This image provided by James Ewing via the Cultural Landscape Foundation shows the San Francisco-Oakland Bay bridge. (AP Photo/James Eqing via the cultural Landscape Foundation)
This image provided by James Ewing via the Cultural Landscape Foundation shows the San Francisco-Oakland Bay bridge.
kgo-AP Photo/James Eqing via the cultural Landscape Foundation)

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- As part of the Super Bowl 50 festivities, you'll see the Bay Lights sparkle again on the western span of the Bay Bridge.

WATCH VIDEO: Time-lapse of the Bay Lights installation

The light sculpture project that's comprised of 25,000 LED lights made its debut from March 2013 to March 2015. It was initially meant to run for two years, but it became so popular that millions were raised to the nighttime display permanent.

"The Bay Lights have become a global phenomenon and are now engrained in the cultural identity of California," says founder Ben Davis of ILLUMINATE, the nonprofit organization that conceived and drove the project to success. "The radically accessible artwork directly contributes to the quality of life, cultural fabric, and economic vitality of the entire Bay Area."

WATCH VIDEO: Hundreds come out to watch lights turned off on Bay Bridge

Artist Leo Villareal adds, "I am honored that the people of the Bay Area have chosen to bring The Bay Lights back and make it a permanent part of their lives. It's the ultimate compliment to an artist. My favorite aspect of the piece is how it brings people together."

"We are proud to work with artists to enhance the integration of transportation infrastructure in communities throughout California. The Bay Lights does this on a grand scale," says Caltrans District Director Bijan Sartipi.

A relighting ceremony is scheduled for Jan. 30 at 7:25 p.m.

Click here for full coverage on Super Bowl 50.