News:

Thanks to everyone for the feedback on what errors you encountered from the forum database changes made in Fall 2023. Let us know if you discover anymore.

Main Menu

Street Lights That Hung on Wires

Started by Brian556, October 09, 2018, 08:07:08 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

Brian556

In old photographs, you always see street lights hanging dead center over the street on wires, but you never see these anymore, even in the most stuck-in-the-past small towns.


When did they stop installing them, when were they all removed by, and why are there none still around despite so many other old things still being in use?


CtrlAltDel

There's still a few out and about. Here's one in Johnson City, TN.

Interstates clinched: 4, 57, 275 (IN-KY-OH), 465 (IN), 640 (TN), 985
State Interstates clinched: I-26 (TN), I-75 (GA), I-75 (KY), I-75 (TN), I-81 (WV), I-95 (NH)


sparker

Rare as hen's teeth in CA; the only time I've seen them used was in temporary installations within construction zones.  Seen a few in the Northwest; there were some in Portland when I was living there 25 years ago, mostly either out in the east end between I-205 and Gresham or Sandy, or along the US 30 corridor NW toward St. Helens.  I remember during storms they would be swinging around pretty dramatically (although partially tethered so directionality could be maintained).  I would imagine most have been replaced by fixed masts and arms by now. 

davewiecking

Quote from: Brian556 on October 09, 2018, 08:07:08 PM
In old photographs, you always see street lights hanging dead center over the street on wires, but you never see these anymore, even in the most stuck-in-the-past small towns.

When did they stop installing them, when were they all removed by, and why are there none still around despite so many other old things still being in use?
Are you asking about night-illuminating street lights, or RYG traffic lights?

DaBigE

Quote from: Big John on October 09, 2018, 08:36:20 PM
There are some remaining in Milwaukee: https://goo.gl/maps/Yx2U2u1to2J2

You beat me too it. I instantly thought of my grandparent's old neighborhood...I remember seeing them as a kid. As of at least 2016, they're still there too: 68th St, Milwaukee

Big John: To get the shorter link in Street View, click on the vertical series of 3 dots in the upper left corner of the window. That will open a window with an option to share a link to the image
"We gotta find this road, it's like Bob's road!" - Rabbit, Twister

ErmineNotyours


Henry

Quote from: davewiecking on October 09, 2018, 09:04:29 PM
Quote from: Brian556 on October 09, 2018, 08:07:08 PM
In old photographs, you always see street lights hanging dead center over the street on wires, but you never see these anymore, even in the most stuck-in-the-past small towns.

When did they stop installing them, when were they all removed by, and why are there none still around despite so many other old things still being in use?
Are you asking about night-illuminating street lights, or RYG traffic lights?
I'd say the streetlights that turn on at night, which probably haven't been done since the 60s or 70s; there are still tons of RYG traffic signals that hang from wires in many places.
Go Cubs Go! Go Cubs Go! Hey Chicago, what do you say? The Cubs are gonna win today!

billpa

The op said Street lights, not traffic lights. They're relatively common in some European urban areas.
The weird thing is I find wire-hung streetlights elegant and pleasant but spanwire traffic lights almost always cheap looking and lazy.

Pixel 2


Brandon

"If you think this has a happy ending, you haven't been paying attention." - Ramsay Bolton

"Symbolic of his struggle against reality." - Reg

txstateends

I've seen pics of that kind of streetlight setup before, it's an interesting look, but I like side mountings on poles (or middle posts if there is a median strip) better.  ISTR a brief time several years ago on a block or 2 of Mockingbird Lane east of US 75 in Dallas where there were span-wire streetlights down the middle of the street.  I'm not sure how long they were there, but it wasn't very long, and I didn't hear why they were there or why they were removed.
\/ \/ click for a bigger image \/ \/

hbelkins

I remember seeing a bunch of them on rural roads in Michigan, mostly at crossroads.

http://www.millenniumhwy.net/2009_Gd_Rapids_Day_2/Pages/231.html


Government would be tolerable if not for politicians and bureaucrats.

Kulerage

I can't recall ever seeing these. Traffic lights, though, there's quite a few.

jemacedo9

Rochester NY installed new street lights on wires a couple of years ago, Downtown, on the new Cortland St, as part of it's Midtown project:

https://goo.gl/maps/33yPNZFtP3y

renegade

I just saw a bunch of these on Saturday all over northern lower Michigan.  They're located at intersections all over the place, especially on the state highway network.
Don’t ask me how I know.  Just understand that I do.

jp the roadgeek

Interstates I've clinched: 97, 290 (MA), 291 (CT), 291 (MA), 293, 295 (DE-NJ-PA), 295 (RI-MA), 384, 391, 395 (CT-MA), 395 (MD), 495 (DE), 610 (LA), 684, 691, 695 (MD), 695 (NY), 795 (MD)

kphoger

Keep right except to pass.  Yes.  You.
Visit scenic Orleans County, NY!
Male pronouns, please.

Quote from: Philip K. DickIf you can control the meaning of words, you can control the people who must use them.

jjakucyk

Very common in Denmark, and they even attach the span wires to the buildings so you don't have any poles.  The Cincinnati area has two specific locations for this sort of thing, one is on Beechmont Levee where the lights need to be low for the approach to Lunken Airport:  https://goo.gl/maps/edznf3BVwS52  There's also a couple along Miami Avenue in Madeira:  https://goo.gl/maps/xMxqi7cpPL52  There's a few others scattered around the city itself for lighting at oddly shaped intersections, but those are just a matter of circumstance rather than any standard.  This particular location in Walnut Hills also shows some very rare hanging ped signals along with the light:  https://goo.gl/maps/374h93qtL3v  They really didn't want to run conduit to that island (not that they haven't dropped wires from above in other places). 

billpa



Quote from: jjakucyk on October 19, 2018, 02:32:18 PM
This particular location in Walnut Hills also shows some very rare hanging ped signals along with the light:  https://goo.gl/maps/374h93qtL3v  They really didn't want to run conduit to that island (not that they haven't dropped wires from above in other places).

That's interesting...And odd.

Pixel 2


Tonytone

Quote from: billpa on October 21, 2018, 09:23:00 AM


Quote from: jjakucyk on October 19, 2018, 02:32:18 PM
This particular location in Walnut Hills also shows some very rare hanging ped signals along with the light:  https://goo.gl/maps/374h93qtL3v  They really didn't want to run conduit to that island (not that they haven't dropped wires from above in other places).

That's interesting...And odd.

Pixel 2
Wtf....... I've never seen a setup such as this. I guess anything is possible, we could hang the street lights like that too.



iPhone
Promoting Cities since 1998!

ErmineNotyours


Bickendan


mgk920


US 89

Quote from: mgk920 on October 29, 2018, 09:59:15 AM
Quote from: ErmineNotyours on October 28, 2018, 11:37:48 PM
Overhead light wiring in Tacoma:
*snip

Back-in angled parking?

Interesting.

Mike

It's becoming more and more of a thing. Here's an example on 200 South in Salt Lake City, with a Mercedes who apparently figured he didn't need to follow the sign.

ErmineNotyours

Seattle used to have lots of ped signals on wires, but they've mostly been replaced now.

Walk sign on a wire, 15th & John, Seattle by Arthur Allen, on Flickr



Opinions expressed here on belong solely to the poster and do not represent or reflect the opinions or beliefs of AARoads, its creators and/or associates.