What are these things?

[MikeCL]

I've seen them local in town on some roads but this is the first time I've seen it on a highway

[WillWeaverRVA]

Overheight vehicle detection system?

[MikeCL]

Overheight vehicle detection system?

Can't be I've seen them in town where they were at stop lights at intersections facing the stop line

[jeffandnicole]

They're some sort of traffic counting device.

[oscar]

They look more like a closure gate in the "open" position, there if needed to block traffic. The lights on the pole above the sign, and the counterweight on the bottom, are tip-offs.

[jeffandnicole]

They look more like a closure gate in the "open" position, there if needed to block traffic. The lights on the pole above the sign, and the counterweight on the bottom, are tip-offs.

They're not lights, they're sensors.  And that's not a counterweight at the bottom but rather a stand if it were to be placed directly on the ground.

[paulthemapguy]

Where is this located?  Context might help us to figure out what it is.

[1995hoo]

My first thought was that it looks like a gate they could use to block traffic if needed for contraflow, such as in a hurricane evacuation, but then I noticed the OP is from Connecticut, so I doubt that initial thought is correct.

[Mapmikey]

It appears to be a sampling probe.

Things worth sampling that high off the ground:  noise and pollution

[DaBigE]

That's a Miovision traffic data collector. The thing at the top is the recording camera. They're mostly used for collecting intersection counts; however, the video can be used in other ways as well. One black box is the "brains" and the other likely is a backup battery. It'll likely disappear in a few days.

[MikeCL]

Here is another in another town I saw a few months back

[roadman]

"Unleaded Fuel Only."  How old is THAT vehicle?

[kphoger]

"Unleaded Fuel Only."  How old is THAT vehicle?

Huh.  I had to run out to my car to check, and I was surprised to see it doesn't say anything about unleaded fuel only.  I could have sworn it did.  I'm nearly certain my 2004 Dodge Grand Caravan had something like that on the gas cap or cover.

[kphoger]

I'll also say that a big sticker like "UNLEADED FUEL ONLY" is a useful reminder to the driver of a fleet vehicle that he should not fill it up with Diesel.

I used to drive a delivery truck for a company whose fleet consisted of three Diesel trucks and one gasoline truck.  On the rare occasion I had to run my route with the gasoline truck, it was hard to remember to reach for the other pump at the gas station.

[jeffandnicole]

And note in this picture it's sitting on the ground, showing that's what that black thingy at the bottom is really for.

I've seen them in Trenton, NJ at intersections on occasion, like as shown in this picture (usually attached to a nearby sign pole).

[MikeCL]

"Unleaded Fuel Only."  How old is THAT vehicle?

It's my ups truck.. you will be surprised how many people put diesel in a gasoline truck or vice versa

[MikeCL]

I'll also say that a big sticker like "UNLEADED FUEL ONLY" is a useful reminder to the driver of a fleet vehicle that he should not fill it up with Diesel.

I used to drive a delivery truck for a company whose fleet consisted of three Diesel trucks and one gasoline truck.  On the rare occasion I had to run my route with the gasoline truck, it was hard to remember to reach for the other pump at the gas station.

Yep! It sucks when you have to drain the tank because someone filled up with diesel or gasoline!

[sharkyfour]

Too funny.  I just saw one of those at an intersection in Willimantic and was trying to figure out what they were.

Looks like CT DOT is moving more and more to video for things that used to be in/on the road surface.  Last week I noticed the bid package that went out for replacing a couple local traffic signals calls for video detection instead of inductive loops in the pavement.  And then I noticed them starting to install the video detection cameras at intersections along US-6 in Windham that was repaved last summer and the inductive loop detectors were never re-installed.

[MikeCL]

Too funny.  I just saw one of those at an intersection in Willimantic and was trying to figure out what they were.

Looks like CT DOT is moving more and more to video for things that used to be in/on the road surface.  Last week I noticed the bid package that went out for replacing a couple local traffic signals calls for video detection instead of inductive loops in the pavement.  And then I noticed them starting to install the video detection cameras at intersections along US-6 in Windham that was repaved last summer and the inductive loop detectors were never re-installed.

I don't really care too much for the cameras for what ever reason I've had them not detect me.. I've been at lights that never change.. I mean you can force a change if you press a cross walk button.. but I don't get how these lights never cycle automatically after so many minutes of staying green for one side.

It drives me nuts pretty much all of CT still has the red left turn arrow as I did not get over the loop sensor in time.. so I have to wait for the light to cycle twice before I get a green arrow.. I don't know why they don't change to a flashing yellow.. it would make so much since not only because the turning lane is so short.

[roadman]

"Unleaded Fuel Only."  How old is THAT vehicle?

It’s my ups truck.. you will be surprised how many people put diesel in a gasoline truck or vice versa

Fair point.