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Stangest Traffic Lights

Started by tribar, March 25, 2015, 05:30:17 PM

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JKRhodes

Quote
So Arizona Revised Statutes call it two separate intersections (and Nevada apparently has a similar definition). Functionally, it is one intersection.

Yeah, even though it's more common than I realized, that's pretty much the thing I found goofy about them, that there are two closely spaced signals relaying essentially the same message.

With more modern signals having larger heads and better illumination(LEDs and such), that seems to explain how the standard has evolved to tolerate greater signal head - stop bar distance over time.

I seem to recall a handful of signalized divided highway crossings in Texas where the only signal faced by the cross street is the near side one in the median. Though the only specific example I can think of at the moment is in Commerce:

http://goo.gl/maps/CAVyb





Revive 755


JKRhodes

Quote from: Revive 755 on April 26, 2015, 10:24:37 PM
How about this odd signal in in Elgin, IL?

Looks like they made Dundee and Liberty one-way roads north of Page in order to allow the intersection at Congdo to essentially function as a four-way intersection. Page handles the switchover for northbound and southbound traffic. Seems clever.

jeffandnicole

Found this intersection a little unusual last night while in Camden, NJ (ugh). https://goo.gl/maps/7HJbTYabuT32  The Google Street Car is at the stop line.  Yet, there are no traffic lights visible at this point!  You need to scan to the right to see the light that is just about even with the stop line.  And the 2nd light for this direction?  Pan to the left and back a ways!

jakeroot

Quote from: jeffandnicole on February 10, 2016, 02:14:40 PM
Found this intersection a little unusual last night while in Camden, NJ (ugh).

Camden looks like a nice city.

jeffandnicole

Quote from: jakeroot on February 10, 2016, 02:38:02 PM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on February 10, 2016, 02:14:40 PM
Found this intersection a little unusual last night while in Camden, NJ (ugh).

Camden looks like a nice city.

Frequently ranks #1! 

Zeffy

Quote from: jeffandnicole on February 10, 2016, 02:14:40 PM
night in Camden, NJ (ugh).

Now what is a fine gentleman like you doing in such a nasty place after dark?
Life would be boring if we didn't take an offramp every once in a while

A weird combination of a weather geek, roadgeek, car enthusiast and furry mixed with many anxiety related disorders

jeffandnicole

Unfortunately it was for a viewing. I started wondering if it was going to be for my own!

cl94

Also in a burnt-out neighborhood is this thing. Yes, that is a red ball and a green ball facing the same approach. I don't think this has been replaced (South Troy has a bunch of old lights).
Please note: All posts represent my personal opinions and do not represent those of my employer or any of its partner agencies.

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Big John

^^ looks like the left "red" signal applies to the left lane while the other 2 apply to the right lane, though there needs to be signage to that effect.  A just ahead shot shows traffic from the upper right also has the gerrn.

cl94

Quote from: Big John on February 10, 2016, 09:37:46 PM
^^ looks like the left "red" signal applies to the left lane while the other 2 apply to the right lane, though there needs to be signage to that effect.  A just ahead shot shows traffic from the upper right also has the gerrn.

That's my assumption. It operates as a 4-phase signal (1st St, 4th St, Main St, Winslow Ave, not necessarily in that order). NB US 4 right lane gets a green for first two phases, left gets it for the first only. Winslow is one of the very few actuated approaches in Troy. Unsure about Main.
Please note: All posts represent my personal opinions and do not represent those of my employer or any of its partner agencies.

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JKRhodes


ADOT uses that type of setup on Freeway Overpasses at SPUI Interchanges in Metro Phoenix
[/quote]

Gantry mounted signals are also commonly found on Grand Avenue in Phoenix:
https://goo.gl/maps/B4bzKfSmKGz

along with a handful on Gantzel Road in the San Tan Valley:
https://goo.gl/maps/1AFSc2B5hu52


The signal gantry assemblies on Grand Ave (along with the various SPUI interchanges around the valley) make sense, because it's simpler and more aesthetically appealing than a cluster of mast-arm assemblies. Plus the stop lines are far back enough that signal visibility isn't an issue.  The ones on Gantzel, on the other hand, are just goofy.


NYhwyfan


cl94

Quote from: NYhwyfan on February 20, 2016, 10:51:42 AM
Quote from: cl94 on February 10, 2016, 08:57:56 PM
Also in a burnt-out neighborhood is this thing. Yes, that is a red ball and a green ball facing the same approach. I don't think this has been replaced (South Troy has a bunch of old lights).

Noticed Troy has a few gems haha

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.7131419,-73.6945117,3a,75y,2.31h,78.56t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sPatBB6J5jRR7VA_uM924sQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.7214682,-73.69229,3a,75y,260.25h,80.41t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sVpLj3DwbJuPtLoL_eLeFrQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

The single light is very common in New England and adjacent parts of New York. Every one of Troy's installations that is newer than the early 80s has 2 signals per approach.

And I drove through the intersection I posted yesterday evening. Still in that configuration.
Please note: All posts represent my personal opinions and do not represent those of my employer or any of its partner agencies.

Travel Mapping (updated weekly)

noelbotevera

Here's a traffic light that's very stang. Basically it's supposed to be a roundabout, but for some reason people decided to be a scumbag and put traffic lights there.

jakeroot

Quote from: noelbotevera on February 20, 2016, 02:36:25 PM
Here's a traffic light that's very strange. Basically it's supposed to be a roundabout, but for some reason people decided to be a scumbag and put traffic lights there.

Frankly, that's one of the strangest intersections I've ever seen.

cl94

Quote from: jakeroot on February 20, 2016, 02:43:21 PM
Quote from: noelbotevera on February 20, 2016, 02:36:25 PM
Here's a traffic light that's very strange. Basically it's supposed to be a roundabout, but for some reason people decided to be a scumbag and put traffic lights there.

Frankly, that's one of the strangest intersections I've ever seen.

Who the heck had the bright idea to do that? Alright, we have a traffic circle in the center of town - let's make both streets one-way and keep the circle in place!
Please note: All posts represent my personal opinions and do not represent those of my employer or any of its partner agencies.

Travel Mapping (updated weekly)

kj3400

Quote from: cl94 on February 21, 2016, 12:31:17 AM
Quote from: jakeroot on February 20, 2016, 02:43:21 PM
Quote from: noelbotevera on February 20, 2016, 02:36:25 PM
Here's a traffic light that's very strange. Basically it's supposed to be a roundabout, but for some reason people decided to be a scumbag and put traffic lights there.

Frankly, that's one of the strangest intersections I've ever seen.

Who the heck had the bright idea to do that? Alright, we have a traffic circle in the center of town - let's make both streets one-way and keep the circle in place!

https://goo.gl/maps/X76apbjkjvK2
Baltimore's Mt Vernon Square is similar, except only one direction, Charles Street, is one way.
Call me Kenny/Kenneth. No, seriously.

pianocello

Here's one in Lake Station, IN: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.5745106,-87.2315897,3a,75y,68.94h,93t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1smQgksop4zfkbXdVJenLtaA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

I know this two-red-ball signal head is common in some parts of the country (I think I once heard Texas uses them a lot), it's very strange for the Midwest. It's also strange that there's only one signal for each direction of travel.
Davenport, IA -> Valparaiso, IN -> Ames, IA -> Orlando, FL -> Gainesville, FL -> Evansville, IN

Mohkfry

Quote from: pianocello on February 21, 2016, 12:42:22 AM
Here's one in Lake Station, IN: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.5745106,-87.2315897,3a,75y,68.94h,93t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1smQgksop4zfkbXdVJenLtaA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

I know this two-red-ball signal head is common in some parts of the country (I think I once heard Texas uses them a lot), it's very strange for the Midwest. It's also strange that there's only one signal for each direction of travel.

There was another one at the intersection of Michigan and Huber in New Chicago, IN (not far from this one) but it was replaced a few years ago.  AFAIK, this is the last one left in northwest Indiana.

jay8g

Quote from: pianocello on February 21, 2016, 12:42:22 AM
Here's one in Lake Station, IN: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.5745106,-87.2315897,3a,75y,68.94h,93t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1smQgksop4zfkbXdVJenLtaA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

I know this two-red-ball signal head is common in some parts of the country (I think I once heard Texas uses them a lot), it's very strange for the Midwest. It's also strange that there's only one signal for each direction of travel.

That reminds me of this odd thing up here in Washington

jay8g

Oh, and then there's this signal, which has a flashing yellow circle indication. This is really strange because SDOT has many normal flashing yellow arrow signals.

jakeroot

Quote from: jay8g on February 21, 2016, 04:17:09 PM
Quote from: pianocello on February 21, 2016, 12:42:22 AM
Here's one in Lake Station, IN: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.5745106,-87.2315897,3a,75y,68.94h,93t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1smQgksop4zfkbXdVJenLtaA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

I know this two-red-ball signal head is common in some parts of the country (I think I once heard Texas uses them a lot), it's very strange for the Midwest. It's also strange that there's only one signal for each direction of travel.

That reminds me of this odd thing up here in Washington

That's a very strange setup there. The double red balls are very rare here in Washington, particularly in that configuration (in fact, I can't recall seeing that style before -- the double-tall red ball setup can be seen here in Tacoma).

The protected/permissive signals are also pretty weird. One direction has bimodal arrows, the other flashing yellow. :confused:



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