Eternal Green Lights

mrsman · March 31, 2026, 09:23:33 AM

Quote from: freebrickproductions on March 30, 2026, 05:45:42 AMOne here in Huntsville, AL, as well:
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.7134583,-86.6886603,3a,41.2y,259.15h,88.77t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1saqoYU77rGyTqQ_vQ1ExaUw!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D1.2310790970045389%26panoid%3DaqoYU77rGyTqQ_vQ1ExaUw%26yaw%3D259.14533963155435!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDMyNC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

Used to be a doghouse that never went red, IIRC.

A doghouse that never went red also emphasizes my earlier point that the familiar signal is useful, even if it doesn't cycle through all the phases. Probably that doghouse never lit the red or yellow orbs. [And if that is the case, 24/7, even in the wee hours when yellow flash may be best suited, then I would say that the DOT doesn't even have to put light bulbs in the slots for red and yellow orb.]

Keep in mind that most drivers don't think so heavily about this stuff like us. They see a familiar doghouse, they know what to do: green orb: go straight, yield on left turn. green arrow: protected left turn. They never think about whether the light would or could go red. It's just not important to them, since they see a green light now.

SkyPesos · April 06, 2026, 10:43:43 PM

A few in the St Louis area:
- Murdoch Ave at I-44 WB ramp
- Berry Rd at I-44 EB ramp
- MO 141 NB at US 40 WB ramp
- MO 141 SB at MO 364 EB ramp
- Chesterfield Pkwy at US 40 EB frontage road

Some removed examples:
- Delmar Blvd at I-170 NB ramp. Replaced with a normal signal when the pedestrian crossing was added
- Jefferson Ave at US 40 WB ramp. Removed when the other half of the diamond interchange was completed
- 5th St at I-70 WB. Removed when signals for the ramp coming off I-70 WB was added, before the entire interchange was converted to a DDI.

The_Ginger · April 07, 2026, 07:45:36 PM

Here's one on US-60 southeast of Charleston:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/4ishZcrSLJ4vG9hY9

Revive 755 · April 07, 2026, 09:31:59 PM

Quote from: SkyPesos on April 06, 2026, 10:43:43 PMA few in the St Louis area:
- Murdoch Ave at I-44 WB ramp
- Berry Rd at I-44 EB ramp
- MO 141 NB at US 40 WB ramp
- MO 141 SB at MO 364 EB ramp
- Chesterfield Pkwy at US 40 EB frontage road

Also:

RobbieL2415 · April 08, 2026, 01:20:28 PM

Quote from: kphoger on March 25, 2026, 10:37:14 AMHow common is it in the USA for the through movement to just not have any signal at all?

Something like these examples from Mexico:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/nko72CRxr9EtknP18
https://maps.app.goo.gl/vi1FZ3x1RAgu5iMb6
https://maps.app.goo.gl/WAZeGK479HszhDsU6

Framingham, MA (the EB signal is for a crosswalk, its a MassDOT thing)
https://www.google.com/maps/@42.2988268,-71.3940228,3a,55.8y,91.38h,94.1t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sFFbjHjGrtZXCnuuommJWYQ!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D-4.096933786261289%26panoid%3DFFbjHjGrtZXCnuuommJWYQ%26yaw%3D91.38207656314755!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDQwNS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

fwydriver405 · April 08, 2026, 01:50:23 PM

Quote from: RobbieL2415 on April 08, 2026, 01:20:28 PMFramingham, MA (the EB signal is for a crosswalk, its a MassDOT thing)
https://www.google.com/maps/@42.2988268,-71.3940228,3a,55.8y,91.38h,94.1t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sFFbjHjGrtZXCnuuommJWYQ!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D-4.096933786261289%26panoid%3DFFbjHjGrtZXCnuuommJWYQ%26yaw%3D91.38207656314755!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDQwNS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

I was initially hesitant (leaning towards DQ'ing) to count this Long Beach example (GSV, YouTube) due to the fact the EB thru movement is signalised (but only for the crosswalk) on possibly the same controller as the intersection (but on a different phase), not sure if we're counting pedestrian crosswalks here. The only EB conflicts for the Long Beach one is the pedestrians, Ximeno Ave SB must turn right at Livington.

jakeroot · April 08, 2026, 02:39:56 PM

Quote from: kphoger on March 25, 2026, 10:37:14 AMHow common is it in the USA for the through movement to just not have any signal at all?

I think it might be just as common in Washington for there to be no through signal.

Example in Renton: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Cxpb9Kb1HAbcJWnj9 --

More examples with no through signal:

Benson Drive at I-405, Renton: https://maps.app.goo.gl/RFcitGCZR7pNznUu6

Edit: actually, maybe they're not as common as I thought. I remembered a couple examples right away but I'm drawing a blank as to where more might be. Especially any with an additional left-side merge.

I do remember this example in Colorado Springs with a dual permissive left (FYA displays) and no through signal: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ng1vw1nrvmo7MaQL8

SkyPesos · April 09, 2026, 01:29:28 PM

Quote from: Revive 755 on April 07, 2026, 09:31:59 PM
NB Carondelet at the SB I-55 entrance ramp (complete with a non-standard shared head for the left+thru lane)
SB Germania at the NB I-55 entrance ramp (also with a non-standard shared head)

Do the non-standard shared heads have an eternal green ball for the through direction, and the two spaces below it are for the left turn arrows? First time seeing them.

Looks like there used to be one at Kingshighway and I-44 WB ramp as well, before it got replaced by a FYA. I was looking for an eternal green straight arrow here earlier didn't see a signal for the through movement, which seems to be the exception in the STL area compared to other cities in this thread.

fwydriver405 · April 10, 2026, 10:31:32 PM

Come to think of it, the following types of intersections also generally seem to also have no signal for the through movement, which may make this semi-common if these intersection types are prevalent in such areas:

- The left turn crossover of a Continuous-flow intersection (CFI), prior to the actual intersection (Example 1, 2),
- The U-turn points of a signalised Michigan U-Turn and/or Restricted Crossing U-Turn (RCUT),
- Some B4 parclo interchanges (or variations of it), if the right turn coming off the freeway does not have signal control, and
- Certain Seagull / Continuous Flow T (as green ball, FYA) intersections, where cross street traffic wanting to turn left onto the main road must merge, and there is no crosswalk on the main road with the thru freeflow direction.

The_Ginger · April 11, 2026, 06:10:16 PM

I found three on WV 10 in Logan, W. Va.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Pcbsps1Kojww3Pkv9
https://maps.app.goo.gl/V32WcQnKMYW7dAME7
https://maps.app.goo.gl/CToTiVd8TqpyAfUb8

freebrickproductions · April 12, 2026, 05:42:28 PM

There's a bunch more around Alabama that I haven't shared yet, so here's a list of the ones I can think of that I haven't posted yet (trying again because Cloudflare decided to erase my original post entirely when I went to preview it so I could make sure the links were all right

jakeroot · April 13, 2026, 12:55:32 AM

Quote from: freebrickproductions on April 12, 2026, 05:42:28 PMUS 431 & Bynum Leatherwood Road, Anniston:
https://www.google.com/maps/@33.7175791,-85.8675091,3a,43y,279.26h,90.13t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1snaRMRiPbEAJg51T78zN1tg!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D-0.1255193103053216%26panoid%3DnaRMRiPbEAJg51T78zN1tg%26yaw%3D279.25972748999476!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDQwOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

It's great to see a second left turn signal on the far left corner, I know they are rare in Alabama. I feel like these should be a must with seagull-type intersections. The spirit of the MUTCD really should be to have supplemental displays for the important movement at an intersection; at seagull intersections, the green up arrows aren't really the most critical displays; the roadway itself usually makes it clear you can keep moving. The left turn signal is far more important since it actually changes, and should have a redundant/second/supplemental display.

kphoger · April 13, 2026, 09:49:16 AM

Quote from: freebrickproductions on April 12, 2026, 05:42:28 PM(trying again because Cloudflare decided to erase my original post entirely when I went to preview it so I could make sure the links were all right )

When I type a post that's long enough for me to suspect Cloudfare might cause problems, I make sure to hit Ctrl+A Ctrl+C right before clicking the Preview button.

freebrickproductions · April 14, 2026, 02:08:42 AM

Quote from: kphoger on April 13, 2026, 09:49:16 AM
Quote from: freebrickproductions on April 12, 2026, 05:42:28 PM(trying again because Cloudflare decided to erase my original post entirely when I went to preview it so I could make sure the links were all right )

When I type a post that's long enough for me to suspect Cloudfare might cause problems, I make sure to hit Ctrl+A Ctrl+C right before clicking the Preview button.

I had to do that when posting as well, lol.

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Eternal Green Lights