Traffic signal

[US 89]

I saw this when I was camping in Clifton, NY

I never seen a setup like this.. I assume the two lights talk to each other?

The other light was at the other end of the bridge

Yes, the lights talk to each other. It's basically a humanless flagger.

Here's one on US 285 in New Mexico, where you can see the light at the other end:



But they can also be used for much longer segments. This one on UT 143 was probably 2 miles long at least:

[jakeroot]

I've seen them used when not acting as a robotic flagger during contraflow. This was in Puyallup, WA, between a span wire signal coming down, and a mast arm going up.

The all-yellow backplate is a bit odd (not allowed but whatever), and cutaway visors are very unusual here. I thought this contraption might have come down from BC, as their signals often have both of those features.

[MikeCL]

Wow assuming wireless I wonder what range it tops out at? And a all yellow backplate is a bit odd

[jakeroot]

Wow assuming wireless I wonder what range it tops out at? And a all yellow backplate is a bit odd

Not pictured are cameras mounted on two wooden masts (in opposite corners) which watched traffic and adjusted the signals as necessary. No idea how they talked to the temporary signal; if wireless comms are a thing for these, I suspect that is what they used.

[jakeroot]

Edmonton, Alberta has started using the retroreflective borders on signals, and (in keeping with some recent trends in other parts of the city), using a secondary signal head on the left. Turn signals were traditionally mounted vertically in the median, unlike the overhead through signals which were horizontal. But the turn signals remain vertical on the mast arm when used in this position.

Most interesting: as far as I know, this is the only jurisdiction in Canada that uses the retroreflective yellow border without an all-yellow backplate. Calgary and Red Deer use yellow backplates, and I'm not aware of any retroreflective borders in Banff.

https://goo.gl/RvM4Ty

(Edmonton has traditionally used permissive signals for all left turns, hence the "no turn on red" signs and [not pictured] double red orbs)

[TBKS1]

I'm too late posting this.

Near Tunica, Mississippi. I took this on June 3rd. I've never seen anything like this before.

[Big John]

^^ An inverted T.  Used when vertical clearance is an issue.

[NoGoodNamesAvailable]

I'm too late posting this.

Near Tunica, Mississippi. I took this on June 3rd. I've never seen anything like this before.

This is extremely common in NJ.

[index]

I'm too late posting this.

Near Tunica, Mississippi. I took this on June 3rd. I've never seen anything like this before.

This is extremely common in NJ.

Speaking of inverted Ts and being common, does anyone know if any inverted Ts are in NC? I swear I've seen one here before, but all I have of that is a vague memory from when i was three or four or five.

[MikeCL]

Since we are talking yellow borders these are new signals in Stamford that have reflective yellow border

And in Weehawken I don't get the whole double red traffic light..

[SignBridge]

Wow, that Stamford installation looks very California-like with two right-side pole mounted signals. And the other one with the double-red I assume is from New Jersey? I remember they had some of those in Bayonne years ago.

[jakeroot]

Wow, that Stamford installation looks very California-like with two right-side pole mounted signals.

That's what I thought as well. Glad to see some western practices making their way east. Let's just hope there's another pole mounted signal in the left.

[jakeroot]

Another WSDOT install that has caught my eye. I think they've gone mad!

This left turn from E Bay Street to E 27 St in Tacoma has four left turn signals, for a single-lane left turn. It's not yet activated, but here's the Street View: https://goo.gl/poa2L9

Old WSDOT would have used two overhead signals, and that's all. But they've been throwing up pole-mounted signals all over the place lately. This interchange went from none four years ago, to at least seven today (four intersections in total -- split diamond). Still work to do, but I'm more than pleased!

[MikeCL]

Wow, that Stamford installation looks very California-like with two right-side pole mounted signals.

That's what I thought as well. Glad to see some western practices making their way east. Let's just hope there's another pole mounted signal in the left.

Hmm I think it is I'd have to check again

[MikeCL]

Wow, that Stamford installation looks very California-like with two right-side pole mounted signals. And the other one with the double-red I assume is from New Jersey? I remember they had some of those in Bayonne years ago.

Yeah the double red is in NJ.. is this just a NJ thing? I haven't seen it anyplace else

[MikeCL]

I've seen people run this light which is stupid because traffic on the other side is out of view because they enter from the right.. still let people try it anyways.

[paulthemapguy]

Another WSDOT install that has caught my eye. I think they've gone mad!

This left turn from E Bay Street to E 27 St in Tacoma has four left turn signals, for a single-lane left turn. It's not yet activated, but here's the Street View: https://goo.gl/poa2L9

Old WSDOT would have used two overhead signals, and that's all. But they've been throwing up pole-mounted signals all over the place lately. This interchange went from none four years ago, to at least seven today (four intersections in total -- split diamond). Still work to do, but I'm more than pleased!

Hooray for post-mounts!  Though 4 signal heads for one lane is a bit excessive.  The one on the signal mast just absolutely does not need to be there, unless there's a curve in the approach to the intersection.  I'm just happy to see any DOT cover all their bases--making sure each signal has a duplicate, and making sure a signal is visible from all possible lines of sight stemming from the approach.

I feel personally struck by the crosswalk signals that just stick up straight from the poles (no hooks).  I haven't seen any signals like that in ages.

[MikeCL]

Another of the Stamford signals no traffic light on the left

[paulthemapguy]

Does anyone know about these signal heads with the circular backing for each section? What are these signals?  They're common on old DuPage County installs (Illinois) which I love because of the curved mast arms.


20180704_142838 by Paul Drives, on Flickr

[jakeroot]

Another WSDOT install that has caught my eye. I think they've gone mad!

This left turn from E Bay Street to E 27 St in Tacoma has four left turn signals, for a single-lane left turn. It's not yet activated, but here's the Street View: https://goo.gl/poa2L9

Old WSDOT would have used two overhead signals, and that's all. But they've been throwing up pole-mounted signals all over the place lately. This interchange went from none four years ago, to at least seven today (four intersections in total -- split diamond). Still work to do, but I'm more than pleased!

Hooray for post-mounts!  Though 4 signal heads for one lane is a bit excessive.  The one on the signal mast just absolutely does not need to be there, unless there's a curve in the approach to the intersection.  I'm just happy to see any DOT cover all their bases--making sure each signal has a duplicate, and making sure a signal is visible from all possible lines of sight stemming from the approach.

I feel personally struck by the crosswalk signals that just stick up straight from the poles (no hooks).  I haven't seen any signals like that in ages.

I think they should do away with the right-most mast arm signal, and leave the two on the poles. My personal preference is for all intersections to have post-mounted far left and far right signals at a minimum. I know Illinois doesn't always use a far right signal head (instead using near-side pole mounted signals, which are still fantastic), but they do come in handy when the intersection uses dedicated left turn signals (as is very often the case here in WA). The far left repeater would be a left turn signal, so you'd need a right-side through repeater for redundancy. Even if all four signals on an approach were green orbs (far left pole, two overhead and one on right pole), it helps to have one on the right in the event you can't see to your left or in front of you.

Does anyone know about these signal heads with the circular backing for each section? What are these signals?  They're common on old DuPage County installs (Illinois) which I love because of the curved mast arms.


20180704_142838 by Paul Drives, on Flickr

Those are Econolite Bullseye signals, but the round door variant. According to freebrickproductions, they were produced from the late 50s to an indeterminate point in time, and from the early 60s alongside the square-door variant. I also quite like the curved mast. I don't mind straight-armed masts, but curved is pretty cool too!

There are quite a lot of those near me, and AFAIK are also one of the oldest signals you see around here: https://goo.gl/cBke4z

[traffic light guy]

Bullseyes are not common where I live, plus, they don't get nice repaints like other states do, instead they're left to rot in their original condition.  Several decades ago, these were very common in Philly, hundreds of intersections had these, as of now I'm guessing there's less than twenty left. Unfortunately, most likely due to the non-ambiguous nature of the standards in my area, only the square-door version is used, ironically I kind of prefer this version of the bull's eye:


Econolite Bullseyes by thesignalman, on Flickrftp://

These two Bull's eyes are at the same intersection:

Econolite Bullseye by thesignalman, on Flickr


Another Econolite Bullseye by thesignalman, on Flickr

I love how the eastern part of the U.S. doesn't repaint their older signals, it keeps the authenticity of their age

[jakeroot]

Do you know of any specific jurisdictions that repaint their signals? Around here, most signals are a dull black or green color, so they aged quite gracefully. In fact, the only way for me to tell if a signal is old, is if it's an old manufacturer. Or, if the backplate is rusty or worn. Either way, no repainting around here that I'm aware of.

[SignBridge]

Nassau County DPW on Long Island does repaint their yellow signal heads periodically. However I think they may have cut back somewhat on this maintenance as the County government is in dire financial straits and some of their signal heads are looking very faded lately.

[Amtrakprod]

It seems companies like McCain have an almost impossible to see the black border, compared to eagle: Eagle: https://www.google.com/maps/@42.4155121,-71.1530432,3a,17.6y,297.45h,104.67t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sYUGhtrtgTnsuo1nW1k3qWQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
McCain: https://www.google.com/maps/@42.3978246,-71.1411478,3a,15y,270.3h,98.07t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s5BI8PguGUC9QZodbBaue3w!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3D5BI8PguGUC9QZodbBaue3w%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D228.62907%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656

[Amtrakprod]

Here's a weird signal in Park Forest, IL.  Three 4-section heads face the northbound traffic.  Southbound setup is even weirder because the signals are all 8-inchers.  Didn't have time to get a photo of those, though.  Here's a GSV looking southbound https://goo.gl/maps/Riq4Y1AQBpw


20180703_120526 by Paul Drives, on Flickr


20180703_120528 by Paul Drives, on Flickr


20180703_184621 by Paul Drives, on Flickr

There's one like this here: https://www.google.com/maps/@42.3752819,-71.1457835,3a,19.2y,55.07h,92.94t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sHGmj4PgyrLG83qfJ_jxxhA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656