Change the Arm But Leave The Pole

[roadman65]

https://goo.gl/maps/YLqj7JPkQphNnVsU6

Here is an unusual one, the mast arm on the left signals is newer than the pole as the hardware from the old double guy arm is still left behind near the top of the pole.  Usually the pole and arms are replaced together. Also note that the pole is not bolted to a foundation like most signals but planted into the soil that was a common practice in NJ until vehicles begin crashing into them. The far right signal has breakaway bases where the pole would come out if a car struck it at any high speed.

[UCFKnights]

https://goo.gl/maps/YLqj7JPkQphNnVsU6

Here is an unusual one, the mast arm on the left signals is newer than the pole as the hardware from the old double guy arm is still left behind near the top of the pole.  Usually the pole and arms are replaced together. Also note that the pole is not bolted to a foundation like most signals but planted into the soil that was a common practice in NJ until vehicles begin crashing into them. The far right signal has breakaway bases where the pole would come out if a car struck it at any high speed.

Very rare. Florida sometimes even puts provisions for an arm, including sometimes even installing the pole, but if the arm isn't put up with the pole, they never use it. One that annoyed me a few years back is in 2011 they put up mast arms, and left provisions to extend them because the next year, they had it funded already for 2014. But because the last piece of the arm wasn't installed, they ripped out the whole things and replaced it with a span wire just 3 years later: https://www.google.com/maps/@28.5686216,-81.2235925,3a,90y,306.4h,80.61t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sGvGKmtdZ13y--mf8SbMQPQ!2e0!5s20150401T000000!7i13312!8i6656

Even when they just install the base for the light, they don't seem to like to use that, and often rip it out to replace it just a few short years later:
https://www.google.com/maps/@28.3696524,-81.2864011,3a,90y,301.32h,109.63t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sp5dSuSBRTU-nML4fLY5MMw!2e0!5s20210301T000000!7i16384!8i8192
https://www.google.com/maps/@28.3695938,-81.2863898,3a,15y,335.08h,82.26t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s7cWLAXwdWRsbaTKFWof0aQ!2e0!5s20190501T000000!7i16384!8i8192

[Dirt Roads]

Even when they just install the base for the light, they don't seem to like to use that, and often rip it out to replace it just a few short years later:
https://www.google.com/maps/@28.3696524,-81.2864011,3a,90y,301.32h,109.63t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sp5dSuSBRTU-nML4fLY5MMw!2e0!5s20210301T000000!7i16384!8i8192
https://www.google.com/maps/@28.3695938,-81.2863898,3a,15y,335.08h,82.26t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s7cWLAXwdWRsbaTKFWof0aQ!2e0!5s20190501T000000!7i16384!8i8192

Yup, the use of directional drilling means throwing all of the old stuff away.  We railroaders would reuse old signal foundations if we could, but I can assure you that it is a bear to dig underneath and yank out all of the old cable.  It is [unlawful] to splice into the old cables, even if they are a few years old.  It is certainly acceptable to dig out all of the old cable, test it and reuse it (wherever).  Most of these cables have a 40-year lifespan, so the old use needed to be included in the forecast (most of our railroad signal cables were required to have a 50-year lifespan).  The cables that I first installed are now almost 35 years old. 

Sadly, it is way more inexpensive to replace everything with new stuff and abandon the old stuff in place.  A few centuries from now, we'll need all of that old copper but it will be easy to find.

[UCFKnights]

Even when they just install the base for the light, they don't seem to like to use that, and often rip it out to replace it just a few short years later:
https://www.google.com/maps/@28.3696524,-81.2864011,3a,90y,301.32h,109.63t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sp5dSuSBRTU-nML4fLY5MMw!2e0!5s20210301T000000!7i16384!8i8192
https://www.google.com/maps/@28.3695938,-81.2863898,3a,15y,335.08h,82.26t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s7cWLAXwdWRsbaTKFWof0aQ!2e0!5s20190501T000000!7i16384!8i8192

Yup, the use of directional drilling means throwing all of the old stuff away.  We railroaders would reuse old signal foundations if we could, but I can assure you that it is a bear to dig underneath and yank out all of the old cable.  It is [unlawful] to splice into the old cables, even if they are a few years old.  It is certainly acceptable to dig out all of the old cable, test it and reuse it (wherever).  Most of these cables have a 40-year lifespan, so the old use needed to be included in the forecast (most of our railroad signal cables were required to have a 50-year lifespan).  The cables that I first installed are now almost 35 years old. 

Sadly, it is way more inexpensive to replace everything with new stuff and abandon the old stuff in place.  A few centuries from now, we'll need all of that old copper but it will be easy to find.

I just don't understand why they bother installing anything to be "future ready" in the first place when they literally NEVER use it.