Eternal Green Lights

[US71]

Van Buren, Arkansas has a straight ahead arrow that's always green.

[cl94]

There aren't many examples in New York, but I remember seeing a bunch when I lived in Ohio. The Columbus area has several.

[Super Mateo]

Two I know of in Illinois are at Lake Street heading west at the I-294 NB entrance. There's one at Rockland Road heading east at the SB I-94 Entrance.

I've seen more around Illinois but I don't remember their locations.

It's nowhere close to Chicago, but there's one in Danville, IL on WB US 136 just before it turns onto IL 1.

[David Jr.]

There is an eternal green light in Branson, Missouri on the ramp from eastbound Shepherd of the Hills Expy. (MO 248, becomes Branson Landing Blvd.) to go northbound on U.S. 65.

https://www.google.com/maps/@36.6569131,-93.2211963,3a,15y,97.34h,92.16t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1safTj2OEPFVSdVNKd1qwLrA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[CrystalWalrein]

https://goo.gl/maps/3QMkV2doo752

There's a permanent green arrow at Hartford Avenue and Winchester Avenue in Atlantic City. Winchester Avenue is two-way when turning right here; the others circulate away from this point.

The GSV shot shows a red light and the green arrow simultaneously, which indicates that you can't drive straight through on Hartford.

[M3019C LPS20]

I know several off the top of my head in the city of New York.


Platinum Avenue and Staten Island Mall entrace/exit


https://www.google.com/maps/place/Platinum+Ave,+Staten+Island,+NY/@40.5789376,-74.1685603,3a,75y,90.81h,90.26t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sA2nBYR2vicUEV6kfTDkCJg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DA2nBYR2vicUEV6kfTDkCJg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D29.687233%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656!4m2!3m1!1s0x89c24b83f06e8b9d:0x2570b69984e02040


The signalized intersection was first built in the early-2000s, and it did not originally have a protected left turn movement. It was added by the NYCDOT sometime after 2007.


Four Corners Rd. and Todt Hill Rd.

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.5933398,-74.1105689,3a,75y,197.6h,84.93t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sSu4zRqidEKm35VE1vSd-vQ!2e0!5s20120901T000000!7i13312!8i6656


The cross street pedestrian signals are actually actuated, so a person is required to push a nearby button to active the "WALK" phase. Four Corners Rd. and Todt Hill Rd. is one of a handful of intersections on Staten Island that have operable pedestrian push buttons in spite of the fact that many throughout the city of New York have been disconnected from service by the DOT over 30 years ago.


And then there was this oddball at Hillside Av. and 164th St. in Queens, N.Y....

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.7087834,-73.7991819,3a,30y,58.59h,90.09t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sr5GPwKpyRwMl86ymWf8RkA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

The other cluster on the right has a standard three-section (R/A/G) head in use.


Fast forward to present day, and the new setup at the corner looks like this...

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.7086517,-73.7992953,3a,15y,41.58h,92.39t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sVtv-AujqgSGKH6iIY4Yg4Q!2e0!5s20150901T000000!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

[doogie1303]

There's several places in RI that have "eternal greens", except they always put a standard light in, it just never changes.

This one on RI-113 east at the entrance to Post Rd:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.7112565,-71.4469081,3a,37.5y,100.3h,77.02t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sHG0yOusl2COVC6hMQeV-NQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

This one on US-1 north, not even a mile from the previous example:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.723155,-71.4406325,3a,75y,7.54h,76.84t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1saxOBgttpis6jZK9RBHez3Q!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

This one is at RI-401 at RI-4 north:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.662883,-71.4883573,3a,75y,85.6h,75.7t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s_s8RMz87cE147NRYyJurqg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[M3019C LPS20]

This one is at RI-401 at RI-4 north:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.662883,-71.4883573,3a,75y,85.6h,75.7t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s_s8RMz87cE147NRYyJurqg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

I like how the traffic signals still have their original incandescent amber and red sections intact.

[paulthemapguy]

Decatur, Illinois has a BUNCH of these.  I was going to state this in the first place, but didn't have many examples on hand to back it up.  Now I have found the examples I drove past years ago!

https://goo.gl/maps/2xoJLM47qnR2
https://goo.gl/maps/fX9hyKbZuEx
https://goo.gl/maps/h5BxrTXGmrn

East-central Illinois seems to like these in general... https://goo.gl/maps/nq2dwakk1gL2 (see also the example in Danville, already posted)

[doogie1303]

This one is at RI-401 at RI-4 north:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.662883,-71.4883573,3a,75y,85.6h,75.7t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s_s8RMz87cE147NRYyJurqg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

I like how the traffic signals still have their original incandescent amber and red sections intact.

Well, there's no reason to upgrade those sections to LED since they're never lit.

[thenetwork]

The intersection of Granger Road (SR-17) and Warner Road in Valley View (Cleveland) OH:

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.4140583,-81.6374622,3a,75y,80.25h,73.75t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1smeEWUfwjdRsL7WOJDPneYA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

Warner Road traffic must turn right at Granger Road.

[cl94]

This one is at RI-401 at RI-4 north:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.662883,-71.4883573,3a,75y,85.6h,75.7t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s_s8RMz87cE147NRYyJurqg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

I like how the traffic signals still have their original incandescent amber and red sections intact.

Well, there's no reason to upgrade those sections to LED since they're never lit.

Then why aren't the signals there just single heads?

[Zzonkmiles]

In Columbia, SC on Harbison Blvd right off of I-26, there is an eternal green light at the intersection with Saturn Parkway. This eternal green light only exists for traffic heading southwest or away from I-26. Traffic heading northeast or towards I-26 has a regular traffic light that sometimes turns red to allow cars turning right from Saturn Parkway (Walmart, Best Buy, a hotel) to merge. Cars on Saturn Parkway cannot turn left onto Harbison Blvd., thus allowing for the eternal green light there. If that eternal green light didn't exist, traffic would back up horribly on Harbison Blvd., which is already pretty congested.

[thenetwork]

This one is at RI-401 at RI-4 north:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.662883,-71.4883573,3a,75y,85.6h,75.7t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s_s8RMz87cE147NRYyJurqg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

I like how the traffic signals still have their original incandescent amber and red sections intact.

Well, there's no reason to upgrade those sections to LED since they're never lit.

Then why aren't the signals there just single heads?

Probably because should there be a problem with the signal mechanism, the lights could go into flash mode and either go to an all-flash red or the thru-only lights would flash yellow.

[bzakharin]

This one is at RI-401 at RI-4 north:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.662883,-71.4883573,3a,75y,85.6h,75.7t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s_s8RMz87cE147NRYyJurqg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

I like how the traffic signals still have their original incandescent amber and red sections intact.

Well, there's no reason to upgrade those sections to LED since they're never lit.

Then why aren't the signals there just single heads?

Probably because should there be a problem with the signal mechanism, the lights could go into flash mode and either go to an all-flash red or the thru-only lights would flash yellow.

That doesn't make sense. If the signal were a single head, it should just stay lit as green upon malfunction, while the other lights go into flash mode. In fact, if it were wired right, it couldn't malfunction short of complete power loss or burned out bulb.

[mrsman]

A location that *should* have an eternal green light is here: https://goo.gl/maps/wz65x9wfLf62  Even though the ramp is barrier separated from the other lanes and has no stop line or bar, occasionally you'll get the car that'll stop because the other lights are red.

I totally agree with this- there's a mast arm right there on the right anyway!  Just make it a dual mast arm and put a one-section head on there, and you're done!

I wonder if there is a sign that can be placed instead of a one-section head that can also get the message across.  It would be nice if we can save the electricity from adding more signal faces.

[Jet380]

It seems like the preferred treatment around Perth, Australia is to leave the straight-through lanes unsignalised with no stop bar, using arrows for all aspects of the turn signals:
https://www.google.com/maps/@-31.9220986,115.8263867,3a,75y,69.7h,75.01t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sC3bZi9opFs8z10-wAflEaw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

But there is one intersection I know of that has a continuous green light:
https://www.google.com/maps/@-31.8678271,115.8013963,3a,46.1y,98.59h,84.63t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1siuMazkUxfa5uv0NW-drIAQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
This one is particularly strange because the middle lane is shared, so you have the potential for through traffic to get 'caught' behind cars waiting to turn.

I wonder if there is a sign that can be placed instead of a one-section head that can also get the message across.  It would be nice if we can save the electricity from adding more signal faces.

Something like this, perhaps?

[mrsman]

This one is at RI-401 at RI-4 north:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.662883,-71.4883573,3a,75y,85.6h,75.7t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s_s8RMz87cE147NRYyJurqg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

I like how the traffic signals still have their original incandescent amber and red sections intact.

Well, there's no reason to upgrade those sections to LED since they're never lit.

Then why aren't the signals there just single heads?

Probably because should there be a problem with the signal mechanism, the lights could go into flash mode and either go to an all-flash red or the thru-only lights would flash yellow.

That doesn't make sense. If the signal were a single head, it should just stay lit as green upon malfunction, while the other lights go into flash mode. In fact, if it were wired right, it couldn't malfunction short of complete power loss or burned out bulb.

One aspect to consider might be the color blind, the RYG would denote green to them, even though the R and Y are never lit.  But then again, the vast majority of people who drive through an intersection don't think that much about it.  If they see green, they go, and they don't worry about why this signal never goes red or  yellow.  In fact, even for the non color  blind, showing R and Y is more familiar to the general public and they wouldn't have to think twice about it.

[mrsman]

It seems like the preferred treatment around Perth, Australia is to leave the straight-through lanes unsignalised with no stop bar, using arrows for all aspects of the turn signals:
https://www.google.com/maps/@-31.9220986,115.8263867,3a,75y,69.7h,75.01t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sC3bZi9opFs8z10-wAflEaw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

This is the preferred treatment where the left turns (or right turns in the case of Australia) are channelized.  The left turners will see their traffic signal and act appropriately, and through traffic will just go through and not worry about it.  The straight through drivers will not be confused by the left turn signals because of the separation.

But there is one intersection I know of that has a continuous green light:
https://www.google.com/maps/@-31.8678271,115.8013963,3a,46.1y,98.59h,84.63t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1siuMazkUxfa5uv0NW-drIAQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
This one is particularly strange because the middle lane is shared, so you have the potential for through traffic to get 'caught' behind cars waiting to turn.

The shared middle lane will actually require having separate indications for straight through traffic, to avoid confusion.  But you are right that this is a rare configuration.  The only benefit for having a middle lane split would be if turning is the busier movement during some parts of the day and going straight is the busier movement at other times.  This situation is usually handled better by split-phasing signals or near-split phased signals.

[roadfro]

I wonder if there is a sign that can be placed instead of a one-section head that can also get the message across.  It would be nice if we can save the electricity from adding more signal faces.

Something like this, perhaps?

I think the first preference should be using channelizing islands and avoiding having a signal arm over the through lanes whenever possible. (Example: US 395 & SR 209 near Minden, NV)

If there isn't sufficient space for signals in the median, the sign method could work. I'd simply have the legend say "DO NOT STOP (down arrow)".

[Katavia]

Almost... Poplar Tent Road at the quarry, west of I-85. Only turns red when trucks are coming out of the quarry...

[paulthemapguy]

I wonder if there is a sign that can be placed instead of a one-section head that can also get the message across.  It would be nice if we can save the electricity from adding more signal faces.

Something like this, perhaps?

I think the first preference should be using channelizing islands and avoiding having a signal arm over the through lanes whenever possible. (Example: US 395 & SR 209 near Minden, NV)

If there isn't sufficient space for signals in the median, the sign method could work. I'd simply have the legend say "DO NOT STOP (down arrow)".

Here's an example of a sign currently in use:
https://goo.gl/maps/6aPhHHXhP4s

But you can't convey the message with just a sign alone.  If there are signals for any traffic, all approaching drivers are going to be looking for their indication.  The continuous green is the only way to keep the driver from panicking.  Really, it probably doesn't waste that much energy, considering that these continuous green arrows can just be bulbs that stand alone from any signal operation system.  In other words, they burn continuously, so they'll only use as much energy as a bulb in an overhead lamp that's always on.
Also, a sign will be harder to see at night.

[freebrickproductions]

I wonder if there is a sign that can be placed instead of a one-section head that can also get the message across.  It would be nice if we can save the electricity from adding more signal faces.

Something like this, perhaps?

I think the first preference should be using channelizing islands and avoiding having a signal arm over the through lanes whenever possible. (Example: US 395 & SR 209 near Minden, NV)

If there isn't sufficient space for signals in the median, the sign method could work. I'd simply have the legend say "DO NOT STOP (down arrow)".

Here's an example of a sign currently in use:
https://goo.gl/maps/6aPhHHXhP4s

But you can't convey the message with just a sign alone.  If there are signals for any traffic, all approaching drivers are going to be looking for their indication.  The continuous green is the only way to keep the driver from panicking.  Really, it probably doesn't waste that much energy, considering that these continuous green arrows can just be bulbs that stand alone from any signal operation system.  In other words, they burn continuously, so they'll only use as much energy as a bulb in an overhead lamp that's always on.
Also, a sign will be harder to see at night.

They probably use even less money now with the LED indications.

[paulthemapguy]

They probably use even less money now with the LED indications.

Absolutely!  I was going to mention that too but I forgot.  ~wavelength~

[Jet380]

Here's a thought, I know that in the USA you have to treat any dark signals as an all-way stop. Does this apply to an 'eternal' green light that has burned out or lost power? If so it might be an argument to use a sign over a lamp.