Longest a traffic signal was installed before becoming operational

[peterj920]

https://www.google.com/maps/place/1480-1518+W+American+Dr,+Neenah,+WI+54956/@44.2222145,-88.4977901,3a,66.8y,320.68h,82.32t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sYqJ0LYbH2O1yaWBorNzzHA!2e0!4m2!3m1!1s0x8803c7ea43ab48d1:0x6291ce66cbbe7ede

Here is the intersection of Town Centre Dr and American Drive in the Town of Menasha, WI.  The traffic signals were installed in 1998 and still haven't been turned on.  Anyone else know of any cases where signals were installed but not turned on for an extended period of time?

[paulthemapguy]

There may be very many places where traffic facilities were constructed in 2006-7, in anticipation of further growth and sprawl in suburban areas.  But then the economy went to crap, the growth and development didn't happen, and now the facilities are now left to rot.  Where I grew up, they built a new elementary school for a new subdivision that popped up around 2009.  But then no one moved into the new subdivision, and the fully-built school remained unopened for years.

There's a signal at this intersection, I believe constructed around 2010, that hasn't been turned on yet.  GSV imagery isn't updated enough to reflect that yet, though.  https://www.google.com/maps/@41.5665228,-88.1161226,18.75z

[busman_49]

Are we counting signals that have been in flash mode since they were installed?

If so, east of Medina, Ohio, on route 18 at Portside Drive is a signal that has been up and flashing since at least 2001:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.1362294,-81.7687078,3a,75y,67.36h,95.13t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sHc65wyiPWZOaNHoolhWFZA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1
Interestingly, these signals have survived a widening project.  Not only that, they haven't been switched out for the new ODOT standard (black signals with or without backplates).

If flash-mode signals don't count, then  on me

[traffic light guy]

Are we counting signals that have been in flash mode since they were installed?

If so, east of Medina, Ohio, on route 18 at Portside Drive is a signal that has been up and flashing since at least 2001:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.1362294,-81.7687078,3a,75y,67.36h,95.13t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sHc65wyiPWZOaNHoolhWFZA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1
Interestingly, these signals have survived a widening project.  Not only that, they haven't been switched out for the new ODOT standard (black signals with or without backplates).

If flash-mode signals don't count, then  on me

Those signals look much older than 2001, they look like they're from the mid-90s

[mrsman]

What about a situation where a traffic signal is installed and operational before the streets around it are open to traffic.

Take a look around here:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Sacramento,+CA/@38.5896279,-121.4940614,3a,75y,300.73h,85.05t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sEVGsvTxpHDWi1OnJn2-wQw!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DEVGsvTxpHDWi1OnJn2-wQw%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D292.26172%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656!4m2!3m1!1s0x809ac672b28397f9:0x921f6aaa74197fdb!6m1!1e1

In Sacramento, the old SP railyard just north of Downtown is being redeveloped.  New streets and intersections are being created to serve the development.  7th Street was extended through the railyards and has been open to traffic for a while.  THe GSV car drove on it.  Railyards Blvd has been constructed but is closed to traffic, yet the signal is operational (I believe on permanent green, but still wasting electricity).

Even better, if you look into the distance, you can see the intersection of 6th/Railyards where all the streets are currently closed to traffic, yet the traffic signal is on showing a green light for Railyards Blvd and a red left turn arrow.

[Big John]

^^ Reminds me of a signal in Russia where no road was built: https://www.rt.com/news/312233-russia-street-light-nowhere/

[ET21]

There's a couple signals that have been like that on the far southwest side of Naperville ( the 95th/243rd Ave area for the locals). The sprawl has slowed a bit, and some of the intersections are ready but no power to the signals yet.

Now that was a year ago, so maybe they've turned on by this point.

[roadfro]

What about a situation where a traffic signal is installed and operational before the streets around it are open to traffic.

Take a look around here:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Sacramento,+CA/@38.5896279,-121.4940614,3a,75y,300.73h,85.05t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sEVGsvTxpHDWi1OnJn2-wQw!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DEVGsvTxpHDWi1OnJn2-wQw%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D292.26172%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656!4m2!3m1!1s0x809ac672b28397f9:0x921f6aaa74197fdb!6m1!1e1

In Sacramento, the old SP railyard just north of Downtown is being redeveloped.  New streets and intersections are being created to serve the development.  7th Street was extended through the railyards and has been open to traffic for a while.  THe GSV car drove on it.  Railyards Blvd has been constructed but is closed to traffic, yet the signal is operational (I believe on permanent green, but still wasting electricity).

Even better, if you look into the distance, you can see the intersection of 6th/Railyards where all the streets are currently closed to traffic, yet the traffic signal is on showing a green light for Railyards Blvd and a red left turn arrow.

Wow...that's incredibly wasteful.

At the 7th intersection, the only thing I can think of to keep that signal operational is if the intersection is being used as a construction access point...then the signal being operational makes sense. Otherwise, I would just power down the signal and bag all the heads until Railyards opens to traffic.

The 6th intersection should just be powered down until the roads open.

[Revive 755]

Anyone know if the signal for Peace Road at Sarah Drive in Sycamore, Illinois, was ever turned on?  Streetview of intersection  As of last month it was still bagged, and I doubt that has changed.

[paulthemapguy]

Anyone know if the signal for Peace Road at Sarah Drive in Sycamore, Illinois, was ever turned on?  Streetview of intersection  As of last month it was still bagged, and I doubt that has changed.

Oh man you're right.  This is an excellent candidate.  How long has that light been sitting there?  I know it was up back in 2010 when I worked in Genoa for a summer.

[RobbieL2415]

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.8307787,-72.4658265,3a,75y,336.37h,81.39t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sH6F0S4pgDJfr2uSS85KNLQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
This signal was off a frontage road for I-84 in Vernon, CT.  It had, to my knowledge, never been activated past its flashing-yellow/red phase and was replaced in 2014 with single flashing yellow/red bulbs.

[freebrickproductions]

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.8307787,-72.4658265,3a,75y,336.37h,81.39t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sH6F0S4pgDJfr2uSS85KNLQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
This signal was off a frontage road for I-84 in Vernon, CT.  It had, to my knowledge, never been activated past its flashing-yellow/red phase and was replaced in 2014 with single flashing yellow/red bulbs.

Most of the signals there were the rare "Checker" signals. Interesting.

[busman_49]

Here's another one I forgot about...Hametown Rd. & Greenwich Rd. in Norton, OH.
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.0257618,-81.6671442,3a,75y,279.06h,87.18t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sY3Qy3lu1HMbKdHnENhgygg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

This install dates back to at least the late 90s.  As far as I know, it's been in flash mode ever since it was installed.  I didn't realize this until looking at the historical street view imagery, but this intersection used to be a 2-way stop until somewhere between 2008 and 2011 when they made it an all-way stop.  This signals still flash, though they are very dim.  Greenwich Rd. (which used to not have to stop) had LED-border stop signs put up.

My photos:
Hametown/Greenwich McCains (1) by Ryan busman_49, on Flickr
Hametown/Greenwich McCains (2) by Ryan busman_49, on Flickr

[RobbieL2415]

Avery Street, South Windsor, CT.
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.8371378,-72.5131352,3a,72.9y,196.5h,81.27t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sU39mCYNVtQxD4vlCv2QMng!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
Not a traffic signal but this warning light has been dormant since at least 2001 when I moved to the neighborhood as a kid.

Control box is still there.  Makes me wonder if it's a private signal and the owners were instructed by the town to turn it off.
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.8370477,-72.5131759,3a,30.1y,328.69h,72.08t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sqrA1kC6x31CFGNnGH1fG6w!2e0!5s20120401T000000!7i13312!8i6656

[freebrickproductions]

Avery Street, South Windsor, CT.
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.8371378,-72.5131352,3a,72.9y,196.5h,81.27t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sU39mCYNVtQxD4vlCv2QMng!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
Not a traffic signal but this warning light has been dormant since at least 2001 when I moved to the neighborhood as a kid.

Control box is still there.  Makes me wonder if it's a private signal and the owners were instructed by the town to turn it off.
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.8370477,-72.5131759,3a,30.1y,328.69h,72.08t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sqrA1kC6x31CFGNnGH1fG6w!2e0!5s20120401T000000!7i13312!8i6656

Almost wonder if the bulbs blew but the town never replaced them.