Horizontal Traffic Lights

[jakeroot]

The Houston and Hawaii examples are giving me some serious Japan vibes. Particularly the Hawaiian examples with the tropical environment and types of architecture.

[jtespi]

Does anyone know of states other than New Mexico that exclusively* use horizontal traffic signals?

I can't find a single regular installation of a vertical traffic signal in New Mexico. By that, I'm excluding special interchanges like SPUIs and CFIs (continuous flow intersections).
Those are some of the only permanent vertical traffic signals in the state. Signals installed on a wire also don't count as they are usually temporary.

I challenge you to find a single regular permanent vertical traffic signal install in New Mexico because I haven't been able to find a single one.

[US 89]

I challenge you to find a single regular permanent vertical traffic signal install in New Mexico because I haven't been able to find a single one.

US 64 and Apache St, Farmington
Paseo del Volcán and Unser, Rio Rancho
Menaul and Wyoming, Albuquerque (though span wire, this is a permanent installation)

They’re rare, but they’re out there.

[jtespi]

US 64 and Apache St, Farmington
Paseo del Volcán and Unser, Rio Rancho
Menaul and Wyoming, Albuquerque (though span wire, this is a permanent installation)

They're rare, but they're out there.

Nice catch! However, I still wouldn't count Menaul and Wyoming NE because it's a wire span. We had a wire span traffic signal install in Las Cruces (Roadrunner Pkwy & Golf Club Rd) that was "permanent" for several years before it got replaced by a regular metal mast arm traffic signal.

It looks like the state/city cheaped out at US 64 and Apache St in Farmington. They could have installed at least one more mast arm for the cross street and increased visibility. Instead they went with only two mast arms at the center of the intersection and used programmable visibility signal heads. The only way they could fit all those signal heads together was to mount them vertically.

The signals at Paseo del Volcan and Unser look brand new and really nice. Some of the signal heads still have covers on them. There's also a nearby intersection, Unser and King Blvd, that has vertical traffic signals too and in the same style (painted green). Paseo del Volcan and Broadmoor has vertical traffic signals painted tan.

I wonder if the City of Rio Rancho will be installing vertical traffic signals going forward? That would mark a big shift for New Mexico away from installing exclusively horizonal traffic signals.

[roadfro]

US 64 and Apache St, Farmington
Paseo del Volcán and Unser, Rio Rancho
Menaul and Wyoming, Albuquerque (though span wire, this is a permanent installation)

They're rare, but they're out there.

Nice catch! However, I still wouldn't count Menaul and Wyoming NE because it's a wire span. We had a wire span traffic signal install in Las Cruces (Roadrunner Pkwy & Golf Club Rd) that was "permanent" for several years before it got replaced by a regular metal mast arm traffic signal.

It looks like the state/city cheaped out at US 64 and Apache St in Farmington. They could have installed at least one more mast arm for the cross street and increased visibility. Instead they went with only two mast arms at the center of the intersection and used programmable visibility signal heads. The only way they could fit all those signal heads together was to mount them vertically.

If you zoom in, you can tell the US 64 & Apache St installation doesn't use programmed visibility signal heads--the red and green signal indications appear to be using thin louvers. They probably could've gone with a monopole and achieved better signal spacing--some of the signal heads are practically on top of each other, and that's not good practice (even with the signals having louvers and serving different approaches).

[jakeroot]

It's interesting to note in that intersection above (in Farmington) the use of side by side five section signals rather than the more conventional doghouse or in-line style. Of course, the latter is by far the most common in New Mexico (either post-mounted or overhead horizontal). Perhaps some Colorado influence; they love side by side signals there.

[US 89]

However, I still wouldn't count Menaul and Wyoming NE because it's a wire span. We had a wire span traffic signal install in Las Cruces (Roadrunner Pkwy & Golf Club Rd) that was "permanent" for several years before it got replaced by a regular metal mast arm traffic signal.

“Permanent” to me means “this will not disappear when the ongoing construction project is done”. Sure, that wire span will probably be replaced at some point, but it’s been there for at least 15 years. I see no reason not to count it now. And it’s not like wire spans have to be vertical, either - Texas sometimes uses horizontal signals on wire spans, which look really ugly in my opinion.

Paseo del Volcan and Broadmoor has vertical traffic signals painted tan.

That’s the first FYA I’ve ever seen in New Mexico.

[jtespi]

If you zoom in, you can tell the US 64 & Apache St installation doesn't use programmed visibility signal heads--the red and green signal indications appear to be using thin louvers.

Yeah, I used the term "programmable visibility" as a catch-all to include signals with louvers. In any case, the signal has purposefully restricted visibility due to the less than ideal mounting location in the intersection.

It's interesting to note in that intersection above (in Farmington) the use of side by side five section signals rather than the more conventional doghouse or in-line style. Of course, the latter is by far the most common in New Mexico (either post-mounted or overhead horizontal). Perhaps some Colorado influence; they love side by side signals there.

Oh yea, I didn't notice that signal until you pointed it out. In New Mexico, we usually use in-line signals since >98% of our signals are horizontal.

Paseo del Volcan and Broadmoor has vertical traffic signals painted tan.

That's the first FYA I've ever seen in New Mexico.

We've had a FYA in Las Cruces at Lohman Ave and Nacho Dr since at least 2017. That's probably one of the earliest uses in the state.
Also, it's odd that Paseo del Volcan at Broadmoor has a 5-section signal (with a right turn arrow) only for the westbound direction. The only other 5-section signals are for left turning traffic in the intersection.

[David Jr.]

I'm guessing that this is due to road work in the area, but there are 2 intersections along Perkins Road in Stillwater, OK that have horizontal traffic lights.  Here's the one at Perkins Road and McElroy Road in Stillwater:

https://www.google.com/maps/@36.1302955,-97.0515024,3a,75y,2.32h,84.92t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s9y9Zmqcik33_HB6HqhCRxA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

[Scott5114]

I'm guessing that this is due to road work in the area, but there are 2 intersections along Perkins Road in Stillwater, OK that have horizontal traffic lights.  Here's the one at Perkins Road and McElroy Road in Stillwater:

https://www.google.com/maps/@36.1302955,-97.0515024,3a,75y,2.32h,84.92t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s9y9Zmqcik33_HB6HqhCRxA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

Probably so, but there are some cities in Oklahoma that do the horizontal stoplight thing. Most of them are close to the Texas border, but you can even find parts of the OKC metro with horizontal lights (like downtown and the entire suburb of Mustang).

[ZLoth]

At the 0:05 point is very near to where I live.

[David Jr.]

This is at Lowe's Drive and SH 152 in Mustang, Oklahoma:

[pderocco]

Here's one of the few I've seen in California:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/XDqQXJQbnj7jBmE37

It sort of makes sense, because it makes it easier to see all the balls when you're approaching it under the overpass. The closer lights are vertical, but they're not over the road, and can be lower. I don't think I've noticed any horizontals that weren't mounted this way for visibility under something.

[hotdogPi]

Regular forum search is timing out for me (I can't even search for Albany horizontal across the entire forum), so apologies if it's been posted before.

Next to the New York State Museum, in an area that doesn't normally use horizontal signals but this one is horizontal for space reasons.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/BYixuzN9rwyZgohA9

[Rothman]

Regular forum search is timing out for me (I can't even search for Albany horizontal across the entire forum), so apologies if it's been posted before.

Next to the New York State Museum, in an area that doesn't normally use horizontal signals but this one is horizontal for space reasons.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/BYixuzN9rwyZgohA9

Somewhat standard practice for underpasses by NYSDOT.  See Townsend St under the viaducts in Syracuse.

[jeffandnicole]

I've probably said this before, but I'm always surprised when someone hasn't seen a horizontal light, especially when an entire video needs to be created to discuss them.  I saw them quite often.  I'm pretty sure it was even in our drivers ed training class.  But I guess for some people, they are just never in an area or travel to areas that have them.

It's quite possible that the only remaining horizontal light remaining in my county was removed a few years ago.  This light, oddly situated here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/TF1drEZW1idvoFKE8 , was removed when the intersection was reconstructed, taking out the porkchop.  It served no real purpose, and right turns weren't prohibited on red.

Horizontal lights also existed at this rural intersection in Salem County, NJ for no particular reason: https://maps.app.goo.gl/gQov8NtGsRd1WV5N6 .  The only possible reason was the powerlines in the area, which in the past 5 years they figured out a fairly easily solution to get around them without moving any of the aerial lines: https://maps.app.goo.gl/UuJLNT9VCEMBt7pY6 .

[pderocco]

Regular forum search is timing out for me (I can't even search for Albany horizontal across the entire forum), so apologies if it's been posted before.

Next to the New York State Museum, in an area that doesn't normally use horizontal signals but this one is horizontal for space reasons.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/BYixuzN9rwyZgohA9

There's always Google. You can't rigorously limit it to one forum board, but you can come close by putting the name of the board or topic in quotes. I find Google is usually better at searching any website than the website's built-in search.

[ZLoth]

I've probably said this before, but I'm always surprised when someone hasn't seen a horizontal light, especially when an entire video needs to be created to discuss them.  I saw them quite often.  I'm pretty sure it was even in our drivers ed training class.  But I guess for some people, they are just never in an area or travel to areas that have them.

Consider myself among them. I'm hard-pressed to recall seeing a horizonal signal prior to moving to Texas as I lived most of my life in either upstate New York or 41 years in California. However, for Texas, it's understandable. During the springtime in North Texas, we can have days of very high winds, so there is less wind resistance when the signal are mounted vertically instead of horizontally. However, the code does mandate that signals go from top to bottom or from left to right to accommodate visually impaired people.

[WNYroadgeek]

A New York one that's NOT at an overpass: https://maps.app.goo.gl/rtNwNFkK5NpXz5oQ9

[Big John]

A New York one that's NOT at an overpass: https://maps.app.goo.gl/rtNwNFkK5NpXz5oQ9

Vertical clearance issues?

[roadfro]

A New York one that's NOT at an overpass: https://maps.app.goo.gl/rtNwNFkK5NpXz5oQ9

Vertical clearance issues?

That would be my guess. Also interesting that there's only one signal head for this approach.

[PColumbus73]

US 70 - Morehead City

In Morehead City, NC, a lot of the traffic signals east of NC 24 are horizontal, but only for US 70, the side streets are vertical. There is also one in Kinston, NC here

Also worth noting that the mast arms for US 70 are higher than the side streets.

Kinston has a couple all horizontal intersections, too here. Looks like they switched from 8" signals to 12" heads and left the existing cables.

[jdbx]

Here's one of the few I've seen in California:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/XDqQXJQbnj7jBmE37

It sort of makes sense, because it makes it easier to see all the balls when you're approaching it under the overpass. The closer lights are vertical, but they're not over the road, and can be lower. I don't think I've noticed any horizontals that weren't mounted this way for visibility under something.

There are 2 examples near me in California, one is because SPUI and the other is due to visibility below a low bridge.