News:

Thank you for your patience during the Forum downtime while we upgraded the software. Welcome back and see this thread for some new features and other changes to the forum.

Main Menu

Traffic Signals that are not used as such, but as becaons

Started by roadman65, September 23, 2013, 02:07:49 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

STLmapboy

Not sure if it counts but check out this install in population-bleeding Northern Ohio. It started out as a string of lights on a wire. By 2013, the lights were all proudly displayed from a single mast arm stretching diagonally over the intersection. Apparently the traffic counts didn't warrant a signal, however, so between 2016 and 2019 that sexy mast arm was changed to bear some undeserving beacons, in my favorite Econolite poly buttonback design and with reflective backplates.
Teenage STL area roadgeek.
Missouri>>>>>Illinois


thenetwork

Quote from: STLmapboy on August 31, 2020, 06:24:35 PM
Not sure if it counts but check out this install in population-bleeding Northern Ohio. It started out as a string of lights on a wire. By 2013, the lights were all proudly displayed from a single mast arm stretching diagonally over the intersection. Apparently the traffic counts didn't warrant a signal, however, so between 2016 and 2019 that sexy mast arm was changed to bear some undeserving beacons, in my favorite Econolite poly buttonback design and with reflective backplates.

Interesting how the auto dealer has tapped into ODOT's mast arm as well...

webny99

Since this got revived... here's an example.

This was a high-accident location back in the 1990's, ultimately causing left turns from the divided highway onto the side street to be prohibited (you can see one of the no left turn signs in the Street View). You can still turn left out of the side street, though.

kphoger

Quote from: webny99 on August 31, 2020, 11:08:07 PM
Since this got revived... here's an example.

This was a high-accident location back in the 1990's, ultimately causing left turns from the divided highway onto the side street to be prohibited (you can see one of the no left turn signs in the Street View). You can still turn left out of the side street, though.

Am I missing something?  Those just look like beacons, not traffic signals being used as beacons.
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.

jakeroot

Quote from: STLmapboy on August 31, 2020, 06:24:35 PM
Not sure if it counts but check out this install in population-bleeding Northern Ohio. It started out as a string of lights on a wire. By 2013, the lights were all proudly displayed from a single mast arm stretching diagonally over the intersection. Apparently the traffic counts didn't warrant a signal, however, so between 2016 and 2019 that sexy mast arm was changed to bear some undeserving beacons, in my favorite Econolite poly buttonback design and with reflective backplates.

Sep 2018: "SIGNAL UNDER STUDY FOR REMOVAL". Can't say I've seen that sign before.

It was already operating as a four-way stop with stop signs by that point.

mrsman

Quote from: jakeroot on September 01, 2020, 02:50:18 PM
Quote from: STLmapboy on August 31, 2020, 06:24:35 PM
Not sure if it counts but check out this install in population-bleeding Northern Ohio. It started out as a string of lights on a wire. By 2013, the lights were all proudly displayed from a single mast arm stretching diagonally over the intersection. Apparently the traffic counts didn't warrant a signal, however, so between 2016 and 2019 that sexy mast arm was changed to bear some undeserving beacons, in my favorite Econolite poly buttonback design and with reflective backplates.

Sep 2018: "SIGNAL UNDER STUDY FOR REMOVAL". Can't say I've seen that sign before.

It was already operating as a four-way stop with stop signs by that point.

I suppose the flash mode was part of their study.  Determine on a trial basis what a four way stop would do to traffic at the intersection before converting it permanently to all beacons.  Perhaps there are also public notice laws that require signs to be displayed in case locals want to comment.  At this point, it seems that the all-stop operation is new because there are flags surrounding all of the stop signs.

[And I'm glad they did a study.  If they determined that there was too much traffic, why go through the expense of reinstalling the signal?]

Another interesting thing to note is that the stop signs are displayed on both the left and right sides of the intersection, on all 4 corners.  These are retained in the most recent GSV (even though the flags are removed).

webny99

Quote from: kphoger on September 01, 2020, 10:17:51 AM
Quote from: webny99 on August 31, 2020, 11:08:07 PM
Since this got revived... here's an example.
This was a high-accident location back in the 1990's, ultimately causing left turns from the divided highway onto the side street to be prohibited (you can see one of the no left turn signs in the Street View). You can still turn left out of the side street, though.
Am I missing something?  Those just look like beacons, not traffic signals being used as beacons.

You're right. They are just beacons. I guess I didn't think about it hard enough to realize the distinction.

I could probably find some *actual* examples at fire stations - I know I've seen them around - but the only one that immediately came to mind is just regular R/Y/G, not flashing yellow.

mrsman

Quote from: webny99 on September 01, 2020, 10:33:52 PM
Quote from: kphoger on September 01, 2020, 10:17:51 AM
Quote from: webny99 on August 31, 2020, 11:08:07 PM
Since this got revived... here's an example.
This was a high-accident location back in the 1990's, ultimately causing left turns from the divided highway onto the side street to be prohibited (you can see one of the no left turn signs in the Street View). You can still turn left out of the side street, though.
Am I missing something?  Those just look like beacons, not traffic signals being used as beacons.

You're right. They are just beacons. I guess I didn't think about it hard enough to realize the distinction.

I could probably find some *actual* examples at fire stations - I know I've seen them around - but the only one that immediately came to mind is just regular R/Y/G, not flashing yellow.

I think the point of the thread are signals that are RYG but no longer change between the designations (ever).  And only serve as a flashing red or a flashing yellow.

Fire station signals (at least the ones that I'm familiar with) may be flashing most of the time, but will change to red to service the needs of emergency vehicles coming and going from the station.  I don't believe any are on permanent flash mode, even if they flash every time that I drive by.

fwydriver405

This signal in Saco ME comes to mind. The R3-5 signs on the southbound side don't even line up with the lane configuration on the pavement anymore, and I don't know when, if not at all, those signals were even activated or deactivated. Looks like they were installed in 2009-ish.

paulthemapguy

A lot of signals in Omaha, NE switch to flashing yellow/red at night, when traffic volumes are lower.
Avatar is the last interesting highway I clinched.
My website! http://www.paulacrossamerica.com Now featuring all of Ohio!
My USA Shield Gallery https://flic.kr/s/aHsmHwJRZk
TM Clinches https://bit.ly/2UwRs4O

National collection status: 361/425. Only 64 route markers remain

ErmineNotyours

Wallace, Idaho, home of the last I-90 traffic signal in a coffin in a museum has another old traffic light on the old I-90 alignment, but it's in permanent flash mode.  A light in one of the stop directions broke off and was replaced by a stop sign.  Also still has dark textual walk signs.

CJResotko

I came across something rather... unusual.
At the intersection of W Gold St and S Cansler St in King's Mountain, a fixed 4-way traffic signal is used as a beacon, but ALL of the indications are used here.
The Gold St approaches have flashing red, and the Cansler St approaches have flashing yellow.

CovalenceSTU

Quote from: CJResotko on June 13, 2022, 11:30:22 AM
I came across something rather... unusual.
At the intersection of W Gold St and S Cansler St in King's Mountain, a fixed 4-way traffic signal is used as a beacon, but ALL of the indications are used here.
The Gold St approaches have flashing red, and the Cansler St approaches have flashing yellow.

Some timed lights do this as well, in the middle of the night they'll flash yellow on the main road (since you have to yield to pedestrians) and red on the side road.

Quote from: CovalenceSTU on August 29, 2020, 03:16:00 PM
This one on Broadway in Seaside, OR has been flashing for as long as I can remember. The signals and the signs are so old I'm convinced they're just waiting for all the lights to fail (one of them in the right of the picture did and it got taken down).

Turns out my suspicions were right, over the last few years most of them failed and now they've all been taken out.

PurdueBill

Quote from: CovalenceSTU on August 22, 2022, 05:56:37 PM
Quote from: CJResotko on June 13, 2022, 11:30:22 AM
I came across something rather... unusual.
At the intersection of W Gold St and S Cansler St in King's Mountain, a fixed 4-way traffic signal is used as a beacon, but ALL of the indications are used here.
The Gold St approaches have flashing red, and the Cansler St approaches have flashing yellow.

Some timed lights do this as well, in the middle of the night they'll flash yellow on the main road (since you have to yield to pedestrians) and red on the side road.


All 3 aspects of a 3-head signal being red (or yellow) and flashing together as pictured is pretty rare, though. 

Troubleshooter

In Oolitic IN, there is a signal that used to be a regular traffic signal on IN 37. Then they moved IN 37. It is now operated as a flashing red in all 4 directions. This was cheaper than paying to tear it down. Interesting that it has two 4-way heads.

iBallasticwolf2

KY 2373 at Buttermilk Town Center as a 4 way stop. Even has doghouse left turn phasing and auxiliary signals on mainline just being used for flashing red.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/j84XAtC7dGjJzjcd7

US 25 Bypass in Dry Ridge at Arnie Risen as a 2 way stop with flashing yellow for the mainline. Also has doghouse signals on mainline only being used as beacons. This signal may actually be activated in the future due to a proposed project in the area.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/YjLV2hiF7F9SzdRQ8
Only two things are infinite in this world, stupidity, and I-75 construction

Bitmapped

At Parkersburg, WV, the signals at the US 50 eastbound ramp at the Marrtown Road exit were put in when the interchange was built around 2005. They operated in RYG mode for a couple years but have been flashing for the past decade: https://goo.gl/maps/BGv41HFjLsKNNDkX8

wanderer2575

The intersection of Milford Road and the exit ramps from westbound I-96 near New Hudson MI originally had traffic signals (on separate controllers) that I believe were always in flash mode (yellow for Milford Road, red for the exit ramps) from day one.  They eventually were replaced with flashing beacons.  https://goo.gl/maps/3hGk2qwChTofvXvb7

Interesting that on the south side of the interchange, the intersection with the eastbound exit ramp has always had a functioning traffic signal.

hbelkins

Quote from: hbelkins on September 23, 2013, 09:36:07 PM
There's a traffic signal at the intersection of Maple Street and Boone Avenue in Winchester, KY (where southbound KY 627 turns from Maple to Boone, and northbound does vice versa) that has been there since I can remember, and definitely dating back to the late 1970s. It flashes red in all four directions and serves as a four-way stop. You can see the back of a stop sign in the link below. There's been a new set of lights installed there in recent years but a set of signals was installed instead of flashers.

http://goo.gl/maps/7KE5W

These have been replaced with beacons.


Government would be tolerable if not for politicians and bureaucrats.

RobbieL2415

This intersection,  seen in 2012, never operated in RYG mode and didnt have a STOP sign prior to 2007. Exit 66 on I-84 is extremely overbuilt with two four-lane frontage roads that really don't need to be four lanes. It is now just a beacon.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/oUBTrThDta9D9ZYy9

This signal operates as a beacon except for when the drive-in is showing movies. I wonder if ConnDOT owns it or the drive in.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/M3dWREJjFEPKaSZWA

This signal will likely remain a beacon forever, given that it is augmented by a STOP sign. Sign has been there since at least 2009, but the signal itself is late-80s/early-90s vintage.

This one was removed in 2020 as part of a larger renovation of I-91. It only operated in RYG mode on weekdays during business hours.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Z8CtfMhXHpDUzBBe9

SilverMustang2011

When the Suncoast Parkway was extended in Florida, they replaced the traffic light at the original end of the road that was always in flashing mode (https://goo.gl/maps/R4mvSm4Hu9WfK6MQ9), with two new traffic lights in a complete interchange that are also always in flashing mode and are supplanted by stop signs: https://goo.gl/maps/57bjJ61JMJwbaf7t5.

I'd be surprised if they never intend to set them to full operation though.

CJResotko

There used to be these traffic signals just outside of Stanwood, Michigan, that were in flash mode 24/7 ever since they were installed at the intersection.
https://www.google.com/maps/@43.5843551,-85.4641551,3a,48.1y,148.71h,90.04t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sMux7x5u8HRUWUkBBmRAAiw!2e0!5s20140801T000000!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu
They were eventually replaced with beacons.

CJResotko

Recently filmed these traffic lights that were set to flash mode in February 2023 in Lansing, Michigan.
https://youtu.be/Ie_ae6iHcL8?si=jHYPjUsM6x__kPxs



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.