Stangest Traffic Lights

[jakeroot]

One of the tallest signal poles I have ever seen:

https://www.google.com/maps/@33.4586739,-112.0777528,3a,75y,310.9h,95.77t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s2XXtrkYmdqrLJZkugtkUHA!2e0!5s20110401T000000!7i13312!8i6656

Well that's a first, for me: a transmission line tower also being used to support traffic signals.

I've seen that a bit in Florida, but only on span wires.

Here's another one, at McCarran Blvd & Prater Way in Sparks, NV (Google Maps Street View). You don't really see this in new Nevada installations anymore.

I am certain that I've never seen such a thing before. The amount of planning to get that pole in just the right spot would have be immense, since it has to be placed appropriately for both the electrical wires, and the roadway. Props to engineering firms for pulling this off.

[bcroadguy]

Here's an interesting signal in Vancouver:
https://goo.gl/maps/L9AmMUbxcFN2
Only 2 sections: green ball and a bimodal arrow

[MNHighwayMan]

I am certain that I've never seen such a thing before. The amount of planning to get that pole in just the right spot would have be immense, since it has to be placed appropriately for both the electrical wires, and the roadway. Props to engineering firms for pulling this off.

I don't think this is a thing that's planned. It's the kind of thing that exists because the pole just happens to be there first, and then the traffic signal is installed later and the pole is used because it's coincidentally, and conveniently, placed just right.

[jakeroot]

I am certain that I've never seen such a thing before. The amount of planning to get that pole in just the right spot would have be immense, since it has to be placed appropriately for both the electrical wires, and the roadway. Props to engineering firms for pulling this off.

I don't think this is a thing that's planned. It's the kind of thing that exists because the pole just happens to be there first, and then the traffic signal is installed later and the pole is used because it's coincidentally, and conveniently, placed just right.

It's certainly possible. Particularly out west, you'll see roads and public utilities laid at the same time, so I wouldn't rule out the possibility of it just being planned that way.

Here's an interesting signal in Vancouver:
https://goo.gl/maps/L9AmMUbxcFN2
Only 2 sections: green ball and a bimodal arrow

I have a video of this signal. I will upload it shortly.

[roadfro]

I am certain that I've never seen such a thing before. The amount of planning to get that pole in just the right spot would have be immense, since it has to be placed appropriately for both the electrical wires, and the roadway. Props to engineering firms for pulling this off.

I don't think this is a thing that's planned. It's the kind of thing that exists because the pole just happens to be there first, and then the traffic signal is installed later and the pole is used because it's coincidentally, and conveniently, placed just right.

It's certainly possible. Particularly out west, you'll see roads and public utilities laid at the same time, so I wouldn't rule out the possibility of it just being planned that way.

In the case of the McCarran signal I posted, I'm guessing it's a case of *a* utility pole being there first, with the McCarran roadway coming later, and then designing a new pole to accommodate a signal mast arm. This is a metal or steel utility pole, whereas the adjacent poles along Prater Way are wood (although it's a line junction, which, in Nevada, are typically metal poles anyway). But this one appears to have been designed for a mast arm mounting, as I don't see any obvious signs of in-field welding.

[mrsman]

I am certain that I've never seen such a thing before. The amount of planning to get that pole in just the right spot would have be immense, since it has to be placed appropriately for both the electrical wires, and the roadway. Props to engineering firms for pulling this off.

I don't think this is a thing that's planned. It's the kind of thing that exists because the pole just happens to be there first, and then the traffic signal is installed later and the pole is used because it's coincidentally, and conveniently, placed just right.

It's certainly possible. Particularly out west, you'll see roads and public utilities laid at the same time, so I wouldn't rule out the possibility of it just being planned that way.

Here's an interesting signal in Vancouver:
https://goo.gl/maps/L9AmMUbxcFN2
Only 2 sections: green ball and a bimodal arrow

I have a video of this signal. I will upload it shortly.

This seems unnecessarily confusing to me.  Wouldn't it be easier to just have a doghouse assembly, but the red and yellow aspects never shine?

[roadfro]

Here's an interesting signal in Vancouver:
https://goo.gl/maps/L9AmMUbxcFN2
Only 2 sections: green ball and a bimodal arrow

I have a video of this signal. I will upload it shortly.

This seems unnecessarily confusing to me.  Wouldn't it be easier to just have a doghouse assembly, but the red and yellow aspects never shine?

Why waste the money on a 5-aspect signal head when only two or three aspects would be used?

What's more confusing to me is the mounting of the signal overhead over the through lanes. The through lanes don't need the information about the arrow. It would have made more sense to mount that head on the backside of the mast/mast arm used for opposing traffic, which would be directly in line with left turning traffic.

[doorknob60]

One of the tallest signal poles I have ever seen:

https://www.google.com/maps/@33.4586739,-112.0777528,3a,75y,310.9h,95.77t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s2XXtrkYmdqrLJZkugtkUHA!2e0!5s20110401T000000!7i13312!8i6656

Well that's a first, for me: a transmission line tower also being used to support traffic signals.

I've seen that a bit in Florida, but only on span wires.

Here's another one, at McCarran Blvd & Prater Way in Sparks, NV (Google Maps Street View). You don't really see this in new Nevada installations anymore.

I am certain that I've never seen such a thing before. The amount of planning to get that pole in just the right spot would have be immense, since it has to be placed appropriately for both the electrical wires, and the roadway. Props to engineering firms for pulling this off.

There's one like this in Boise too.


GSV Link

And for reference, here's one on the same road less than a mile west, where they didn't do it.

[jakeroot]

Here's an interesting signal in Vancouver:
https://goo.gl/maps/L9AmMUbxcFN2
Only 2 sections: green ball and a bimodal arrow

I have a video of this signal. I will upload it shortly.

This seems unnecessarily confusing to me.  Wouldn't it be easier to just have a doghouse assembly, but the red and yellow aspects never shine?

Why waste the money on a 5-aspect signal head when only two or three aspects would be used?

What's more confusing to me is the mounting of the signal overhead over the through lanes. The through lanes don't need the information about the arrow. It would have made more sense to mount that head on the backside of the mast/mast arm used for opposing traffic, which would be directly in line with left turning traffic.

That particular signal placement is indeed a bit odd. BC would typically mount the left turn directly centered in front of the left turn lane, either on the mast or on its own pole.

The two-lens setup that I was actually thinking of (not the one posted by bcroadguy) is on Georgia Street downtown Vancouver, which I do have footage of:

https://youtu.be/6-K46IWuHoQ

Oddly enough (or perhaps not surprisingly), these are the only two of this type that I know of in the Lower Mainland. BC typically uses the Canadian-standard four-head permissive left at left turns with no red, with the top two signals just never lighting up: https://goo.gl/F4AJfZ

[NoGoodNamesAvailable]

Here's an interesting signal in Vancouver:
https://goo.gl/maps/L9AmMUbxcFN2
Only 2 sections: green ball and a bimodal arrow

I'm going to go ahead and join the "this signal is an abomination" camp.

For one, the signal on the right is way too far back from the gore to be intuitive. This setup is also a nightmare for a colorblind person–a two-head setup with only a top ball aspect would look like a stop indication to some severely colorblind people.

A green ball head should always be offset by at least one head above it. I would probably use a setup like this:

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.660159,-73.9303364,3a,61.4y,361.48h,99.27t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sA_yZ67KyrrCdrlHCwvldFQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

but with only two left arrow heads and an FYA during the permissive phase; or at absolute minimum a doghouse with an unused red ball head, a combined G/Y left arrow head and a green ball head.

[mrsman]

I agree completely.  The most confusing aspect for me is that the top light is green and I am not colorblind.

If they copied the other signal that jakeroot posted, it would be a lot simpler.  Drivers don't worry about whether they will ever face a red light - if they see a green, they will go.

[jakeroot]

Signals with an odd number of lenses are not uncommon in Canada. I believe some of the Prairie Provinces use two lens signals for protected left turns. The bottom lens is a bimodal arrow, and they top lens is a red orb.

[johndoe]

Not sure this counts, but referenced at a recent conference:

https://goo.gl/maps/2kPuTUVsJyS2

Hey jakeroot, that u-turn from right lane was pretty interesting (page 5 post date 6-29-16), would you mind posting a google maps link?

[Roadwarriors79]

Well that's a first, for me: a transmission line tower also being used to support traffic signals.

These are common in older areas of the city of Phoenix. A few signals like this are scattered around in the Phoenix suburbs.

[SignBridge]

Johndoe, that whole fancy S-shaped gantry in your photo is there just to support the traffic signals? Never seen anything quite like that, though I have seen a straight one in Pennsylvania hung diagonally across a wide intersection.

[johndoe]

Johndoe, that whole fancy S-shaped gantry in your photo is there just to support the traffic signals? Never seen anything quite like that, though I have seen a straight one in Pennsylvania hung diagonally across a wide intersection.

I guess, it's too far from home for me to see it in person, but that Google link (below the picture) looks that way.  The diagonal treatment seems to be semi-common (some examples are on page 2 of this thread) but I'd never seen one so....artistic!

[Scott5114]

I saw "87th Street Parkway" and knew it had to be Johnson County, Kansas. Yeah, it's in Lenexa, because of course it is.

[bcroadguy]

Signals with an odd number of lenses are not uncommon in Canada. I believe some of the Prairie Provinces use two lens signals for protected left turns. The bottom lens is a bimodal arrow, and they top lens is a red orb.

As far as I'm aware, only Regina, Saskatchewan does that:
https://www.google.ca/maps/@50.447588,-104.6431549,3a,25.4y,157.89h,90.67t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1skU77BBFSFuXsWqAlPJ_Afg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Saskatoon uses two red balls, a yellow ball and a green arrow like Alberta does and Texas used to in some areas:
https://www.google.ca/maps/@52.1509769,-106.5990414,3a,15y,79.06h,91.44t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sqTHt_I0Ipqg1elOTr59K3g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 (Saskatoon)

https://www.google.ca/maps/@32.7949197,-97.2771111,3a,15y,280.74h,93.64t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1skmZqXSMRO6JswcYipNsBpQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 (Fort Worth)

[jakeroot]

Signals with an odd number of lenses are not uncommon in Canada. I believe some of the Prairie Provinces use two lens signals for protected left turns. The bottom lens is a bimodal arrow, and they top lens is a red orb.

As far as I'm aware, only Regina, Saskatchewan does that:
https://www.google.ca/maps/@50.447588,-104.6431549,3a,25.4y,157.89h,90.67t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1skU77BBFSFuXsWqAlPJ_Afg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

I swear I've seen them in at least one other province, but maybe not. Definitely not Alberta, but maybe Manitoba.

[jakeroot]

Hey jakeroot, that u-turn from right lane was pretty interesting (page 5 post date 6-29-16), would you mind posting a google maps link?

Once I get to a computer (on holiday in Florida -- could be a few days), I'd be happy to. It, and several others, are along WA-502 between the 5 and Battle Ground.

[index]

This one's certainly interesting.

[MCRoads]

Not sure this counts, but referenced at a recent conference:

https://goo.gl/maps/2kPuTUVsJyS2

Hey jakeroot, that u-turn from right lane was pretty interesting (page 5 post date 6-29-16), would you mind posting a google maps link?

I found this thing YEARS ago, back before GSV, but was able to look up the intersection and find it... then I forgot about it, and when GSV came out and I tried to find it, I lost it! I LOST IT!!! For years I've been scouring northern KC to find it again (I knew it was in KC!!) ... but, alas, it was in east-central... ahh, the joys of trying to find a long-ago seen intersection/road thing.

[jakeroot]

Hey jakeroot, that u-turn from right lane was pretty interesting (page 5 post date 6-29-16), would you mind posting a google maps link?

Once I get to a computer (on holiday in Florida -- could be a few days), I'd be happy to. It, and several others, are along WA-502 between the 5 and Battle Ground.

Okay, here's a Street View Link: https://goo.gl/mEe7qc.

Note that the road is unfinished in the Street View imagery, but the signal is active. If you zoom out into satellite mode, and disable 3D imagery, you can see new satellite imagery with the U-turn lane. Also note that this is the only right-side U-turn lane along that stretch. I seem to recall more, but the satellite imagery is newer than my last visit (and it only shows one location where this occurs), so evidently not.

[txstateends]

Not sure this counts, but referenced at a recent conference:

https://goo.gl/maps/2kPuTUVsJyS2

That thing is a world unto itself (much less a topic of its own!)

[SignBridge]

I'm amazed that any municipality would have spent the money for that fancy gantry when standard mast-arms would have worked just as well.