Traffic signals hanging by cables?

[andrewkbrown]

From another angle, the signals appear to be formerly yellow, painted gray.
https://maps.google.com/?ll=38.952113,-77.072541&spn=0.002395,0.005284&t=h&layer=c&cbll=38.952133,-77.073705&panoid=yD_NRip9o0weN9-eK0-QDg&cbp=12,349.95,,1,-8.9&z=18

Which wouldn't be the first one I've seen, another now yellow signal. Diagonally across from my firehouse.
https://maps.google.com/?ll=38.896231,-77.010958&spn=0.001198,0.002642&t=h&layer=c&cbll=38.896121,-77.011431&panoid=HM1W9xgp1qTVkdJBsjnDEA&cbp=12,293.28,,0,-2.64&z=19

[Ian]

From another angle, the signals appear to be formerly yellow, painted gray.
https://maps.google.com/?ll=38.952113,-77.072541&spn=0.002395,0.005284&t=h&layer=c&cbll=38.952133,-77.073705&panoid=yD_NRip9o0weN9-eK0-QDg&cbp=12,349.95,,1,-8.9&z=18

Which wouldn't be the first one I've seen, another now yellow signal. Diagonally across from my firehouse.
https://maps.google.com/?ll=38.896231,-77.010958&spn=0.001198,0.002642&t=h&layer=c&cbll=38.896121,-77.011431&panoid=HM1W9xgp1qTVkdJBsjnDEA&cbp=12,293.28,,0,-2.64&z=19

A lot of older signals in DC were repainted post-production because grey was a non-standard color. DDOT would get the signals, then they'd repaint them to their standard color because they couldn't order grey signals.

[wisvishr0]

From another angle, the signals appear to be formerly yellow, painted gray.
https://maps.google.com/?ll=38.952113,-77.072541&spn=0.002395,0.005284&t=h&layer=c&cbll=38.952133,-77.073705&panoid=yD_NRip9o0weN9-eK0-QDg&cbp=12,349.95,,1,-8.9&z=18

Which wouldn't be the first one I've seen, another now yellow signal. Diagonally across from my firehouse.
https://maps.google.com/?ll=38.896231,-77.010958&spn=0.001198,0.002642&t=h&layer=c&cbll=38.896121,-77.011431&panoid=HM1W9xgp1qTVkdJBsjnDEA&cbp=12,293.28,,0,-2.64&z=19

Ahh, you're right. Sorry for that, I didn't look carefully enough.

[mrsman]

I passed under one of these rare to find span wire installations in DC yesterday.

https://maps.google.com/?ll=38.952167,-77.072729&spn=0.002395,0.005284&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=38.952364,-77.073562&panoid=ynyFuWm437rz5PDxGbQT8Q&cbp=12,217.53,,0,6.92

Wow, that is weird. I have to say, though, it's much more visible than the normal mast signals around DC. Especially on multilane roads, I've almost missed signals because DC doesn't use overhead signals for middle lanes (and only sometimes for the right lane). Traffic light visibility is one thing Europeans (and Washingtonians) don't do very well.

ETA:

Would you know that this intersection was signalized if you were travelling at 35 mph? Maybe not until the last moment. This is where span-wire signals (or at least mast arms) are more  helpful.

You're absolutely right.  There needs to be a signal either overhead or in the middle so that it is clear that there is a signal ahead.

Is there some type of law in DC regarding that mast arms along certain corridors are prohibited because they obstruct the view of the monuments?  It probably should be repealed in the interests of traffic safety.

[route56]

A pair of span wire signals in Olathe/Gardner


49453 by richiekennedy56, on Flickr

49454 by richiekennedy56, on Flickr

[Bruce]

The vast majority of signals in Seattle are hung by wires, over and under the trolleybus and streetcar wires. The local PUDs also prefer not to bury telephone wires, so streets end up looking like this:



(Broadway & Pine Street on Capitol Hill: Home to a new streetcar line and 3 trolleybus routes)

[Pink Jazz]

Here in Arizona, span wire is mostly only used for temporary installations.  Also, some cities are now using portable masts as an alternative to span wire signals for temporary installations if the road width permits.