Cutaway vs tunnel visors

[traffic light guy]

Cutaways look better on certain signal brands, such as Crouse-Hinds or Eagle, although they look hideous on older Durasigs (Especially 1st Gen). Tunnel is preferred on more modern signals, such as Econolite or McCain.

[Brandon]

I've seen both used in different areas.  You have Kentucky, which for some strange reason uses cutaways on the red and green signals, but tunnels on the yellows.  Then there's some I've seen in Illinois whereby the red will be a cutaway, but everything else is tunnel visor.

[jakeroot]

Tunnel visors are used on 99% of signals in Western Washington. I'm not aware of any cities currently installing them. The only time I ever see them used is on limited visibility signals at intersections adjacent to railway tracks. No idea why.

In BC, it's a mix of tunnel and cutaway. Tunnel is more common now, but cutaway visors are still plentiful.

Personally, I like the appearance of cutaway visors.

[US 89]

UDOT has recently shifted from tunnel to cutaway visors. Generally, they prefer cutaway visors because it's less likely that snow will accumulate in front of the indications, but tunnels are still used in skewed intersections. See page 21 (pdf page 26) of UDOT's Signalized Intersection Design Guidelines (the PDF is pretty big, so it might take a while to load).

[roadfro]

Nevada prefers tunnel visors on traffic signals. In the snow-prone areas of the north, we use tunnel visors that have roughly the bottom fifth removed to reduce snow accumulation.

[steviep24]

NYSDOT loves cutaway visors and rarely installs tunnel visors except for some skewed intersections.

In Rochester the county of Monroe uses a mix of both, mostly cutaway, but recent installations are tunnel. Seems to depend on the contractor installing them though.

[kphoger]

You have Kentucky, which for some strange reason uses cutaways on the red and green signals, but tunnels on the yellows. 

I agree that this is crazy.  Never did figure out why that would be the preference.

[dfnva]

In Virginia, it depends on the regional VDOT office --

Northern Virginia: Cutaway visors almost exclusively
Richmond suburbs and surrounding counties: Tunnel visors almost exclusively
Most other parts of Virginia: Cutaway visors except Tunnel visors for protected turn signals

[Pink Jazz]

In Virginia, it depends on the regional VDOT office --

Northern Virginia: Cutaway visors almost exclusively
Richmond suburbs and surrounding counties: Tunnel visors almost exclusively
Most other parts of Virginia: Cutaway visors except Tunnel visors for protected turn signals

As for cities, in Hampton Roads most cities seem to use tunnel visors, with cutaway visors mostly found on older signals.

In Arizona, tunnel visors dominate, although I have seen cutaways on temporary span wire signals in Gilbert.

[paulthemapguy]

I've seen both used in different areas.  You have Kentucky, which for some strange reason uses cutaways on the red and green signals, but tunnels on the yellows.  Then there's some I've seen in Illinois whereby the red will be a cutaway, but everything else is tunnel visor.

This is something that District 3 started doing very recently.  I have no idea why.  Everywhere else in Illinois will have tunnel visors.

[Brandon]

I've seen both used in different areas.  You have Kentucky, which for some strange reason uses cutaways on the red and green signals, but tunnels on the yellows.  Then there's some I've seen in Illinois whereby the red will be a cutaway, but everything else is tunnel visor.

This is something that District 3 started doing very recently.  I have no idea why.  Everywhere else in Illinois will have tunnel visors.

Every district here seems to do it's own damn thing at times.