THE ONGOING $30 MILLION RENOVATION OF THE LYTLE Tunnel in Cincinnati is the major tunnel project in the state, and the installation of the LED lighting and its control system is crucial to the success of the project. Performing the installation is Glenwood Electric; Becker Electric Supply is providing the lighting, fixtures, and control system for the project. “We needed to have somebody that would be depend- able, follow through on commitments, meet deadlines, honor pricing, provide product support, and answer ques- tions,” said Phil Thaman, president of Glenwood Electric. “We have a relationship with Becker and Marvin Schultz [director of lighting sales] and that is helping to make the project a success. The electrical system is a very vital part of the tunnel—for life safety, illumination, and monitoring tunnel conditions. “Any time somebody can do something positive for us to help out with our product and meeting commitments [it] is very important,” he added. “It’s not always about the price, and Becker is playing a positive role in the success of the project. All of our projects are equally important, but this is not only a high-profile project, but also challenging in that it requires maintaining existing traffic conditions on one of the busiest interstates in the country.” Schultz noted that his company and Glenwood have been working together for the past two-and-a-half years. “Coordinating the delivery of material is a standard process, but this project was all about the selection of LEDs, fixtures, and the control system, and ensuring that Glenwood would meet the tight construction schedule,” said Schultz, who noted that he has been working on the project since the summer of 2014 when they started look- ing at the different types of engineering specified on the contract.
CURRENT / PROJECT SPOTLIGHT
MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
Becker Electric Supply teams up with local contractor Glenwood Electric
to help make Cincinnati’s Lytle Tunnel project a success. by Irwin Rapoport
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The tunnel installation
reduced the number of
fixtures from 2,402 to 1,317
and saved the owner millions
of dollars in operating costs
over a 10-year period.
