Troutdale’s Centennial Arch, which spans the western edge of the Historic Columbia River Highway and welcomes visitors to downtown Troutdale and the Columbia River Gorge, will become a bit more inviting at night.

Local 48 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the National Electrical Contractors Association’s Oregon-Columbia chapter provided funding to install permanent lighting on the arch, fully illuminating the “Troutdale” and “Gateway To The Gorge” letters on top.

Workers with EC Electrical Construction Co. are installing the permanent lighting and are expected to finish by Friday, said Charlie Warren, Troutdale Public Works director.

The value of the gift is valued about $12,800.

Warren said the lights at the arch’s base don’t extend beyond the Rip Caswell-sculpted bronze trout statues on each side. The Christmas rope lights that have provided temporary but ineffective illumination will be removed, Warren said.

“It’s been a shame all along that you can’t see the arch at night, when it’s at its most spectacular,” Warren said. “I hope the new lights will light it up enough to see it well.”

Warren said the new lights will automatically turn on at night.

Clif Davis, business manager and financial secretary for IBEW Local 48, said the union had offered to contribute permanent lighting to the arch more than a year ago.

Although Local 48 had a dispute with the city earlier this year regarding electrical contracts at the new police station, Davis said “we wanted to do the right thing for the community” and complete the project. He said Local 48 also has contributed the lights around the downtown lamps at Christmas.

The city will install a bronze placard, recognizing the lighting as a gift from IBEW Local 48 and NECA. The arch already has a plaque that recognizes the volunteers, officials and organizations that helped get it designed and built.

The city dedicated the arch in May 2010 for its 103rd birthday.