Extremely Unnecessary Signalized Intersection

Started by JMAN_WiS&S, October 16, 2015, 08:57:13 PM

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Rick1962

Quote from: MNHighwayMan on March 05, 2018, 12:16:19 PM
Quote from: JMAN12343610 on October 18, 2015, 10:37:31 PM
Here is a similar setup in Eau Claire with only some minor signalling differences. This intersection is actually quite busy, handling a lot of downtown bound traffic coming from US 53.

Birch St and Birch St? I get that it's supposed to indicate that the name takes a turn here, but it just looks silly. Maybe should've used some arrows.

Quote from: Rothman on October 19, 2015, 09:42:08 AM
All I know is that I now want an official MUTCDPD badge.

Yes! Someone with more artistic skills than me should make some and sell them. I'd buy it.
Submitted for your disapproval:  Sheridan Road at Skelly Drive in Tulsa. Skelly Drive is one-way going west from Sheridan, and connects with 41st Street. (Used to go through before ODOT "improved" the intersection a few years ago).

The City installed this signal, along with appropriate signage several years ago in an attempt to get drivers to turn left here instead of on 41st Street to alleviate traffic at I-44. Nobody fell for it, so the protected-left indication gets used a handful of times a day, and the pedestrian signals almost never.

SM-G892A



Flint1979

Quote from: Buffaboy on October 17, 2015, 09:21:25 PM
Quote from: Mohkfry on October 16, 2015, 10:00:03 PM
I have a few for you. Both are in Gary, IN.

This first signal was a fully working install, but was put into flash when google drove through. As of today, the signals are fully functional again. There is no need for a fully operational signal here (or any signal at all really) at this intersection. There really isn't even enough traffic to warrant a 4-way stop here, but the signals are still maintained and kept in working order.

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.6143546,-87.2518512,3a,75y,109.46h,76.54t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s3OzrTyRK-tCnhBJkMSXCAg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

Here's another...
This one is in an area that was never all that busy. There are no businesses around, and the road serves as an access road to Lake Station from Gary.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Gary,+IN/@41.5872639,-87.2784902,3a,75y,285.67h,82.97t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sdbhncmQFmNLyLx3eDsyRFA!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DdbhncmQFmNLyLx3eDsyRFA%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D340.41925%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656!4m2!3m1!1s0x8811c26949eba4df:0x3ec3739841d01645!6m1!1e1

If you want more useless signals, I can show you more around Lake County, Indiana.

I'm guessing that they were to handle the heavy traffic from when Gary was in its heyday with the steel mills and that INDOT hasn't bothered taking them down.

Gary and Portage did seem to be sleepy towns when I passed through a year ago.
Flint, Michigan has traffic lights setup in this fashion. Everything in Flint pretty much seems like it was last updated in the 60's or 70's.

This light right here at Davison and Dexter operates 24 hours a day as if there is a bunch of traffic at 3am that this light is going to need to serve. Davison is a major street but Dexter ends within a half mile in both directions.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/N+Dexter+St+%26+Davison+Rd,+Flint,+MI+48506/@43.033057,-83.6401187,3a,75y,293.72h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s6mbpQEg24VThIikUbDYRPA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!4m5!3m4!1s0x882381a95f1e4cd1:0xbf4a8653a6e51e2f!8m2!3d43.0331059!4d-83.6403733

paulthemapguy

Weber Rd and Patrick Dr in Crest Hill, IL.  There isn't even a road established there yet.  Note the jersey walls blocking the east approach.

https://goo.gl/maps/wCJETJw1ys22

Avatar is the last interesting highway I clinched.
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traffic light guy



JMAN_WiS&S

Quote from: traffic light guy on March 11, 2018, 01:47:55 PM
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.1269687,-75.0883167,3a,75y,42.64h,97.95t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1si_cBAsITb5WflTJzA40gTQ!2e0!5s20171001T00

Another extremely unnecessary intersection, surprised that there are "NO PED" signs too, looks pretty safe to cross to me

What is with the random side mast mounted signal that doesn't appear to be aimed at anything?
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I am not an official representative or spokesperson for WisDOT. Any views or opinions expressed are purely my own based on my work experiences and do not represent WisDOTs views or opinions.

traffic light guy

Quote from: JMAN12343610 on March 12, 2018, 04:10:44 PM
Quote from: traffic light guy on March 11, 2018, 01:47:55 PM
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.1269687,-75.0883167,3a,75y,42.64h,97.95t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1si_cBAsITb5WflTJzA40gTQ!2e0!5s20171001T00

Another extremely unnecessary intersection, surprised that there are "NO PED" signs too, looks pretty safe to cross to me

What is with the random side mast mounted signal that doesn't appear to be aimed at anything?

It's supposed to be used for pedestrian crossing, despite the fact that the rest of the intersection doesn't allow ped crossing.

Flint1979

I go through this light a lot and it happens to stay green way too long for Seidel. Traffic will be piling up to the red light on Center with zero traffic on Seidel but the light takes a ridiculous amount of time to change back to green for Center. And what's worse is there use to be another light at Century Drive and Center.

I'm talking about this light right here

https://www.google.com/maps/@43.4226573,-84.0148615,3a,75y,170.14h,89.12t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sP2wRFdmL4_w3czUZmsGyHg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DP2wRFdmL4_w3czUZmsGyHg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D135.15326%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656

freebrickproductions

Quote from: traffic light guy on March 11, 2018, 01:47:55 PM
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.1269687,-75.0883167,3a,75y,42.64h,97.95t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1si_cBAsITb5WflTJzA40gTQ!2e0!5s20171001T00

Another extremely unnecessary intersection, surprised that there are "NO PED" signs too, looks pretty safe to cross to me
Want to say that PA requires the no ped signs on every pole that has a direction without a pedestrian signals in order to be ADA compliant...
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(They/Them)

jeffandnicole

This GSV is from October, 2013.  https://goo.gl/maps/ZJbAyUFCkuG2  There was a signal placed at this new T intersection sometime in 2014 which still has never been uncovered or turned on. 

Also interestingly, (the GSVs are too old to show it), the 'Traffic Signal Ahead' signs were installed upside down, with green at the top and red at the bottom. Not once, but twice.  I'm not sure of the meaning behind that, as it seems not only odd both were installed the wrong way, but no one has ever taken the time to fix them.

traffic light guy

Quote from: freebrickproductions on March 13, 2018, 02:50:42 PM
Quote from: traffic light guy on March 11, 2018, 01:47:55 PM
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.1269687,-75.0883167,3a,75y,42.64h,97.95t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1si_cBAsITb5WflTJzA40gTQ!2e0!5s20171001T00

Another extremely unnecessary intersection, surprised that there are "NO PED" signs too, looks pretty safe to cross to me
Want to say that PA requires the no ped signs on every pole that has a direction without a pedestrian signals in order to be ADA compliant...

Not all of the installs are ADA compliant, look at this:

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.1386721,-75.1250894,3a,75y,161.29h,87.38t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sChtTx2KivyLL8nQ-bco4pQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en&authuser=0
NO signs and NO pedestrian signals

renegade

This one:  https://www.google.com/maps/@42.2454625,-83.6133691,3a,37.5y,329.56h,88.64t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sP9R0V5nQUV6cniJeFOHo8A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
N Huron St at W Cross St, Ypsilanti, MI
The problem with this one is the protected left arrow.  It works independently of the signal for Huron at Cross.  The left only protects the short crosswalk.  If someone triggers the signal with the pushbutton (or sometimes at random intervals), the signal stays red far longer than is necessary, sometimes stuck on red for several minutes.  Combine that with people who don't know that it's legal to turn left on a red ball from a one-way to a one-way, and traffic will back up for a couple blocks. 
Don’t ask me how I know.  Just understand that I do.

jakeroot

Quote from: renegade on March 15, 2018, 02:36:32 PM
This one:  https://www.google.com/maps/@42.2454625,-83.6133691,3a,37.5y,329.56h,88.64t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sP9R0V5nQUV6cniJeFOHo8A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
N Huron St at W Cross St, Ypsilanti, MI
The problem with this one is the protected left arrow.  It works independently of the signal for Huron at Cross.  The left only protects the short crosswalk.  If someone triggers the signal with the pushbutton (or sometimes at random intervals), the signal stays red far longer than is necessary, sometimes stuck on red for several minutes.  Combine that with people who don't know that it's legal to turn left on a red ball from a one-way to a one-way, and traffic will back up for a couple blocks.

The best solution would be to re-time the crossing. A short 15-second phase should do it (walk sign for 5, then 10-second countdown), preferably with a lockout when Huron St has a green signal. So not really unnecessary, just poorly implemented.

ftballfan

Quote from: renegade on March 15, 2018, 02:36:32 PM
This one:  https://www.google.com/maps/@42.2454625,-83.6133691,3a,37.5y,329.56h,88.64t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sP9R0V5nQUV6cniJeFOHo8A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
N Huron St at W Cross St, Ypsilanti, MI
The problem with this one is the protected left arrow.  It works independently of the signal for Huron at Cross.  The left only protects the short crosswalk.  If someone triggers the signal with the pushbutton (or sometimes at random intervals), the signal stays red far longer than is necessary, sometimes stuck on red for several minutes.  Combine that with people who don't know that it's legal to turn left on a red ball from a one-way to a one-way, and traffic will back up for a couple blocks. 
The left turn lane becomes the left lane of Cross St (Cross is one lane WB only just west of Huron)



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