Traffic lights in total rural areas

[roadman65]

Most traffic signals are usually located within corporate boundaries or in populated areas.  However, that case is not so for US 27 and FL 29 in rural Glades County, FL.  Both roads intersect at a signalized (originally not until the late 90's) intersection where no settlements are around and miles to the nearest town or city.  Palmdale is one mile to the north and its not even populated at all nor many dwellings.

Glades County, FL must of installed the signals for safety reasons as the intersection is located in a limited sight distance for US 27 that is posted for 65 mph.

Are there any other rural intersections that have a signal that are located in the middle of nowhere?

[Brian556]

I'd say there are tons. There are plenty of situations where heavily traveled rural highways meet, and traffic volumes warrant a signal. There's probably a lot just in Florida.

I could see maintenance for these being an issue, since there is nobody with a signal department nearby.

[hotdogPi]

US 3 and US 302 in Twin Mountain NH has a traffic light.

[Jardine]

Another time we see traffic signals in a rural setting is during construction projects.  Usually in situations with one lane thru the construction zone and lights alternating direction through.  In rural areas the traffic volumes might be modest enough to not make gigantic back ups.

Usually around here, traffic lights would be used on bridge reconstructions, and the dreaded 'pilot car' would be used on longer zones such as blacktopping and shoulder work.

[hbelkins]

US 3 and US 302 in Twin Mountain NH has a traffic light.

That's not a total rural area. I've been there; there's a small town at that location.

[signalman]

^It's in a small village and there is a lot of tourist traffic in the area.

Galaxy S3

[roadman65]

I'd say there are tons. There are plenty of situations where heavily traveled rural highways meet, and traffic volumes warrant a signal. There's probably a lot just in Florida.

I could see maintenance for these being an issue, since there is nobody with a signal department nearby.

In Florida the counties themselves have road departments that take care of them.  In fact in the Sunshine State, there are no state operated signals.

[formulanone]

Most traffic signals are usually located within corporate boundaries or in populated areas.  However, that case is not so for US 27 and FL 29 in rural Glades County, FL.  Both roads intersect at a signalized (originally not until the late 90's) intersection where no settlements are around...

I remember when it was just a flashing light, but the curve at which US 27 meets FL 29 is somewhat blind one, southbound at 65mph. Still, there's always been more than enough room for waiting at the median...for a car. It couldn't fit a truck and trailer easily, one reason which likely necessitated the change. So Glades County gets two signalized intersections.

Yeehaw Junction gets one at FL 60 and US 441, and there's perhaps 200 people living there. But lots of traffic flows through that intersection, which was a four-way stop back in the early-1990s.

FL 16 at 21 isn't near anyone. US 231 at US 278 isn't near anyone. This could become a pretty massive list...

[signalman]

Yeehaw Junction gets one at FL 60 and US 441, and there's perhaps 200 people living there. But lots of traffic flows through that intersection, which was a four-way stop back in the early-1990s.

It was a 4 way stop when I passed through the intersection in December 2007.  I know it has become fully signalized since then.

[ET21]

There are so many in DeKalb County alone. I'm pretty sure it's a common site along major routes

[hotdogPi]

The entrance to Mount Rushmore has a traffic light, because it has a lot of tourists. It's still rural, though.

[The High Plains Traveler]

When I still lived in Minnesota, we took a drive west of the Cities one day and I found a traffic signal at MN-7 and U.S. 71, south of Willmar. It seemed like an unnecessary installation for the volume of traffic on either road. I remember it as being a box spanwire installation, but looking at GSV just now, http://goo.gl/maps/XlxxD I noticed it's still there and is a typical Minnesota mastarm installation. It looks like a roundabout would be a better idea for this intersection rather than the signal or the 4-way stop that likely preceded it.

[Brandon]

There are so many in DeKalb County alone. I'm pretty sure it's a common site along major routes

But most, if not all are near a municipality such as DeKalb, Sycamore, Sandwich, Waterman, Hinckley, or Genoa.

I've yet to see one in a completely rural area in Illinois.  Usually those tend to be controlled by all-way stop signs.

[hotdogPi]

Does flashing red/yellow count?

[agentsteel53]

what's the highest speed limit for a road with a traffic light?  TX-71 heading out from the airport towards Austin has 70mph, IIRC, and one traffic light remaining as of 2009.  they may have made it a grade separation by now.

I can't think of 75mph and a traffic light anywhere.

[Brandon]

Does flashing red/yellow count?

No.  These are warning beacons (yellow) or for stop signs (red).

[jakeroot]

In my opinion, rural areas should require roundabouts. Those on the primary road see cars approaching the intersection along the secondary road and will speed up to make sure they make the light. That seems pretty dangerous. Besides, roundabouts won't require power connections in the so called "total rural area".

[ET21]

There are so many in DeKalb County alone. I'm pretty sure it's a common site along major routes

But most, if not all are near a municipality such as DeKalb, Sycamore, Sandwich, Waterman, Hinckley, or Genoa.

I've yet to see one in a completely rural area in Illinois.  Usually those tend to be controlled by all-way stop signs.

IL-38 and Meredith Ave would be considered a completely rural intersection. But considering the others, most are in cities yes

[jeffandnicole]

A blanket 'roundabouts in rural areas' isn't the answer in many cases. There could be sight limitations or unusually heavy truck traffic at the intersection. Maybe the tragic light predated the era before roundabouts.

[NE2]

Maybe the tragic light predated the era before roundabouts.

But did it predate traffic circles?

[hotdogPi]

A blanket 'roundabouts in rural areas' isn't the answer in many cases. There could be sight limitations or unusually heavy truck traffic at the intersection. Maybe the tragic light predated the era before roundabouts.

Even if the tragic light was installed before roundabouts, why can't they change it? And what makes it so tragic?

[jeffandnicole]

Damn spell check.

Changing it costs money. If it's not broken...

Some states simply didn't use traffic circles. And those in NJ that I would consider rural (ie, Rt 70's Red Lion & 4 Mile circles) still experience congestion at times!

[hotdogPi]

NJ, CT, and RI have no rural sections.

[NE2]

Some states simply didn't use traffic circles.

Which states? Florida had a rural one at Conway and Hoffner (now it's a suburban traffic light).

NJ, CT, and RI have no rural sections.

bahahahaha

[DandyDan]

When I still lived in Minnesota, we took a drive west of the Cities one day and I found a traffic signal at MN-7 and U.S. 71, south of Willmar. It seemed like an unnecessary installation for the volume of traffic on either road. I remember it as being a box spanwire installation, but looking at GSV just now, http://goo.gl/maps/XlxxD I noticed it's still there and is a typical Minnesota mastarm installation. It looks like a roundabout would be a better idea for this intersection rather than the signal or the 4-way stop that likely preceded it.

Years ago, when I was driving westbound on US 14, I believe they had one at US 71 which was completely rural.  I remember thinking that one was an odd place for one.

In Iowa, they have one on Iowa 2 just west of the I-29 interchange for all the truck stops and other businesses there.  I don't know if that one should totally count, because if the truck stops weren't there, there wouldn't be one there.  But other than those businesses, it's all rural there.

In Nebraska, they have one on US 34 east of Lincoln.  It's the road which ultimately goes north to the east side of Waverly and south to connect with NE 43 south of NE 2, whose street name I don't remember offhand at the moment.  That was another one I thought was odd the first time I went through there, which was when I was on US 34.  I didn't think Lincoln went that far east.