This is at Colorado Blvd and Medpark Dr. I think this goofy installation has something to do with the presence of the power lines in the median. The stange thing is that these signals were first installed with full-length mast arms. They were installed in conjunction with the construction of the DCTA train station nearby. They sat un-used for a long time before being converted to this setup and placed into service.
What if a vehicle in the left lane cannot see the signal due to a large vehicle (bus or truck) slightly ahead of it in the right lane?
I think this is unsafe.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1209.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fcc395%2FBrian5561%2F9.18.2012%2520023_zpsdc0ae019.jpg&hash=d06110b78dc9fd4475f1c4dc22237b269a59e6d5)
The sign in the median is blocking my view, but is the farside, left-corner signal a 5-lamp or 3-lamp signal?
Regardless, the best way to fix this without a mast arm near overhead power lines would be post-mounted signals on the median dividers between opposing traffic directions, like what the Wisconsin standard is.
There's no reason a longer mast arm couldn't have been used.
I think it's better to avoid the median post mount signals, since they seem to get hit often (at least out in NV & CA). In this case, the median is way too narrow to have post signals.
Quote from: Brian556 on September 19, 2012, 01:14:22 AM
What if a vehicle in the left lane cannot see the signal due to a large vehicle (bus or truck) slightly ahead of it in the right lane?
Then the driver can look to the left instead. There's a signal there too.
Quote from: roadfro on September 19, 2012, 06:38:31 AM
There's no reason a longer mast arm couldn't have been used.
I think it's better to avoid the median post mount signals, since they seem to get hit often (at least out in NV & CA). In this case, the median is way too narrow to have post signals.
Agreed on both counts. Also, I find it a bit strange that the power lines are in the median instead of off to the side, where they would usually be.
Those lines should be up high enough that there should be no issue with longer mast arms.
Quote from: Henry on September 19, 2012, 11:23:53 AM
Quote from: roadfro on September 19, 2012, 06:38:31 AM
There's no reason a longer mast arm couldn't have been used.
I think it's better to avoid the median post mount signals, since they seem to get hit often (at least out in NV & CA). In this case, the median is way too narrow to have post signals.
Agreed on both counts. Also, I find it a bit strange that the power lines are in the median instead of off to the side, where they would usually be.
They're just fine in the median, as along Eight Mile in Detroit. I really don't see anything wrong with the signal.
I wonder if the issue isn't maintenance on the signal head on the mast arm where the maintenance crew uses a bucket truck. The sag in the transmission line conductors might put a maintenance crew within the discomfort zone, if not an actual minimum separation distance from those lines, which I would estimate from the insulator size as being 115 or 230 kV. FWIW, I do work for an electric utility, though not in a role that would make me expert in that area.
Quote from: kphoger on September 19, 2012, 09:20:18 AM
Quote from: Brian556 on September 19, 2012, 01:14:22 AM
What if a vehicle in the left lane cannot see the signal due to a large vehicle (bus or truck) slightly ahead of it in the right lane?
Then the driver can look to the left instead. There's a signal there too.
Careful now, you'll disprove the OP's narrative.