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National Boards => General Highway Talk => Traffic Control => Topic started by: roadman65 on December 28, 2011, 08:33:51 PM

Title: New Backlit Blade Traffic Signal Street Signs
Post by: roadman65 on December 28, 2011, 08:33:51 PM
I was noticing that recently in the Orlando, FL area that a new type of overhead backlit street signs are being erected at signalized intersections.  They look just like standard blade signs, but have LED lighting inside instead of the florescant lighting that has always been used. 

This not only makes the sign thinner and lighter, but according to a friend who works for Orange County, FL in the signal repair unit,  he claims that these new signs are not only cost effective and energy efficient, but also longer lasting than the former fixtures.  In the past, the other assemblies were a hassle to maintain as the bulbs would constantly burn out.  These new LED lights will last much longer!

Does anyone have any in their community or know of places besides Orlando that have installed them?  Interested in knowing how and where these are catching on lately.
Title: Re: New Backlit Blade Traffic Signal Street Signs
Post by: Ian on December 28, 2011, 10:41:26 PM
The intersection of US 30 and Church Road in Malvern, PA has them...
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=malvern,+pa&hl=en&ll=40.03799,-75.556605&spn=0.004805,0.009645&sll=40.039477,-75.543065&sspn=0.019221,0.038581&vpsrc=6&hnear=Malvern,+Chester,+Pennsylvania&t=h&z=17&layer=c&cbll=40.037942,-75.556562&panoid=OuzFCMWSXAs0MsMD7vOjng&cbp=12,320.4,,0,-3.4
Title: Re: New Backlit Blade Traffic Signal Street Signs
Post by: Brian556 on December 28, 2011, 11:47:22 PM
The city of Denton, TX uses them on all new signal installations.
Theirs have non-reflective faces.

In Highland Village, There are some at FM 2499 & Highland Shores Blvd that are contractor-installed, they have HIP sheeting and are LED backlit. I thought this was an odd combination.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1209.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fcc395%2FBrian5561%2F01212011019.jpg&hash=60f2fe4b9c5bd0e74353621312a8d9dde5677f40)

The City of Highland Village prematurly installed post-mounted street name blades at this intersection and ended up taking them down after the signal installation.
Title: Re: New Backlit Blade Traffic Signal Street Signs
Post by: Scott5114 on December 29, 2011, 02:48:13 AM
Norman, OK has a setup of these at 24th Ave NW and Mt Williams Dr. These also use the new white-on-green sign blade setup.
Title: Re: New Backlit Blade Traffic Signal Street Signs
Post by: jwolfer on December 29, 2011, 02:35:42 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on December 28, 2011, 08:33:51 PM
I was noticing that recently in the Orlando, FL area that a new type of overhead backlit street signs are being erected at signalized intersections.  They look just like standard blade signs, but have LED lighting inside instead of the florescant lighting that has always been used. 

This not only makes the sign thinner and lighter, but according to a friend who works for Orange County, FL in the signal repair unit,  he claims that these new signs are not only cost effective and energy efficient, but also longer lasting than the former fixtures.  In the past, the other assemblies were a hassle to maintain as the bulbs would constantly burn out.  These new LED lights will last much longer!

Does anyone have any in their community or know of places besides Orlando that have installed them?  Interested in knowing how and where these are catching on lately.

These are going up in Jacksonville are as well.  In the city of Jax and Clay County that I ahve seen
Title: Re: New Backlit Blade Traffic Signal Street Signs
Post by: roadfro on December 29, 2011, 08:20:28 PM
There are a few LED-illuminated street name signs in Reno, NV--these seem to be a preferred option at newer signal installations but there isn't a movement to do any retrofitting.  Instead, the Reno area has been concentrating more on the bigger savings from retrofitting older pedestrian signal heads with countdown LED units and retrofitting signalized intersection street lighting with LED fixtures.


I remember seeing a company at a traffic conference a few years ago that was selling illuminated street sign LED retrofit kits--these would replace the standard florescent lighting in a lighted sign with LEDs but still retain the original housing and sign panel. It looked cool, but it was before the LED lighting craze had really taken off.
Title: Re: New Backlit Blade Traffic Signal Street Signs
Post by: brownpelican on December 30, 2011, 02:47:58 PM
They're popping up all over Baton Rouge. Most are in Clearview, but some of the older ones are in Series D.