Idea to keep cars moving at a stoplight

[Aerobird]

Here's one that does fit the criterion: US-1 and Nova Road (FL-5A) north of Ormond Beach, Florida.

[mass_citizen]

Here's one on US 1 South @ I-95/MA-128, Peabody.

http://goo.gl/maps/z3bga


Locally known as the "jughandle lights" due to the jughandle turn on the NB side.

[roadman]

Here's one on US 1 South @ I-95/MA-128, Peabody.

http://goo.gl/maps/z3bga


Locally known as the "jughandle lights" due to the jughandle turn on the NB side.

The real reason that permanent arrow exists on US 1 southbound is because, from 1974 to 1989, when the I-95/128 "Task A" interchange at Centennial Drive was finally completed, the section of US 1 through the jughandle also carried Interstate 95 traffic and, thus, was considered a "temporary" part of I-95 at the time.  Providing a "full time" green right arrow for the movement to I-95 SB not only improved traffic flow, but it also elimnated the confilct with the commonly accepted design standard against providing traffic signals on Interstate highways.

source - personal conservation with now long-retired MassDPW engineer in the late 1980s

[cpzilliacus]

This isn't exactly a new idea. Most important roads do it to minimize stopping.
Example

Notice the entire northbound side doesn't have to stop at all, just left turning traffic.

Though your example has been the scene of more than a few wrecks on the southbound (signaled) side, not because of the design, but largely because it is the only signal left on U.S. 29 (functional class expressway) between I-70 and Blackburn Road in Montgomery County.

[Aerobird]

Here's one on US 1 South @ I-95/MA-128, Peabody.

http://goo.gl/maps/z3bga


Locally known as the "jughandle lights" due to the jughandle turn on the NB side.

I went to the main view to see the layout there...and then zoomed out...and moved south...and I think my head exploded looking at the entirety of that interchange.

Dear lord.

[NE2]

It's a double trumpet. With braiding. And local access. And more local access.

[Aerobird]

It's a double trumpet. With braiding. And local access. And more local access.

Let's not forget the traffic circle!

[agentsteel53]

some of that local access seems iffy.  it seems that, to take the jughandle and go slightly right of straight, i.e. to access that business just barely upstream of being immediately opposite of the light, is doable but not recommended.

[deathtopumpkins]

Guess this is the most appropriate place for this.

Look what I stumbled upon in Streetview: http://maps.google.com/?ll=28.526076,-80.671642&spn=0.011104,0.021136&t=h&z=16&layer=c&cbll=28.526199,-80.676052&panoid=tWRL7B1BlIenwRHbf5WuOg&cbp=12,317.32,,1,1.5

A signal ahead sign for a case where the right lane does not have to stop, but the left lane and turn lane do. It's on a federally-maintained road at Kennedy Space Center in FL - NASA Pkwy westbound at the turn for the Visitor Center. Anyone seen this before?

[Alps]

Guess this is the most appropriate place for this.

Look what I stumbled upon in Streetview: http://maps.google.com/?ll=28.526076,-80.671642&spn=0.011104,0.021136&t=h&z=16&layer=c&cbll=28.526199,-80.676052&panoid=tWRL7B1BlIenwRHbf5WuOg&cbp=12,317.32,,1,1.5

A signal ahead sign for a case where the right lane does not have to stop, but the left lane and turn lane do. It's on a federally-maintained road at Kennedy Space Center in FL - NASA Pkwy westbound at the turn for the Visitor Center. Anyone seen this before?

Hey, anyone ever seen that when you drop the little man on that road, he turns into an astronaut?! WHEEE!

[yakra]

...or a skier on/near the right bits of VT108.

And now, ME9 "west" at the I-295 Exit 3 offramp.

[Aerobird]

Guess this is the most appropriate place for this.

Look what I stumbled upon in Streetview: http://maps.google.com/?ll=28.526076,-80.671642&spn=0.011104,0.021136&t=h&z=16&layer=c&cbll=28.526199,-80.676052&panoid=tWRL7B1BlIenwRHbf5WuOg&cbp=12,317.32,,1,1.5

A signal ahead sign for a case where the right lane does not have to stop, but the left lane and turn lane do. It's on a federally-maintained road at Kennedy Space Center in FL - NASA Pkwy westbound at the turn for the Visitor Center. Anyone seen this before?

Actually, I'm pretty sure that's FL-405; anyway, this is a farily...I wouldn't say "common", but when this sort of arrangement is used in Florida, this is the standard arrangement for it, as in the US-1/Nova Road in Ormond Beach example I posted earlier.

[NE2]

Actually, I'm pretty sure that's FL-405

Nope. SR 405 begins just before the US 1 interchange, near the adopt a highway sign and the pavement change.

Anyway, I've never seen a signal ahead sign like that, and I've been through about 8 of these intersections all around central Florida.

[Aerobird]

Ah, The More You Know!

I want to say I've seen "Signal Ahead" signs like that somewhere before, but I can't quite place it in my memory. It is a pretty nifty sign though.

[mrsman]

With regard to the intersection at NASA, or similarly situated intersections.

Is there any reason why anyone would drive in the left thru lane?  Just keep right and merge back after the intersection.

[NE2]

With regard to the intersection at NASA, or similarly situated intersections.

Is there any reason why anyone would drive in the left thru lane?  Just keep right and merge back after the intersection.

Because the right lane is in use? This intersection probably has heavy directional traffic during rush hours.

[UptownRoadGeek]

Going by what the OP stated and NOT the examples that most people have posted, how would you prevent traffic that is bypassing then light headed straight from crossing into one of the lanes that traffic from the side street would be turning into and vice versa. I don't understand how this could exist without being a large safety risk.  The only solution that I can think of would be to place a barrier between the bypassing lanes and the turning traffic and in that case you would be better off having turning traffic turn into dedicated lane that merges in and letting all lanes of the main street continue.

[jeffandnicole]

With regard to the intersection at NASA, or similarly situated intersections.

Is there any reason why anyone would drive in the left thru lane?  Just keep right and merge back after the intersection.

Probably the same reason why some people will use EZ Pass in a traditional toll booth lane, slowing down to 15 mph, rather than using the Express EZ Pass lanes where they can continue at their normal highway speed.

I don't know what the specific reasons are, other than they don't pay attention to the signs.  Maybe some simply don't get it, and they sit there at the red light and while why all the cars using the bypass lane aren't stopping.  Maybe these are the people that scored the minimum on their drivers test, failing questions like "What does a red, 8 sided sign with the letters "S", "T", "O", & "P" mean?"

[NE2]

Going by what the OP stated and NOT the examples that most people have posted, how would you prevent traffic that is bypassing then light headed straight from crossing into one of the lanes that traffic from the side street would be turning into and vice versa. I don't understand how this could exist without being a large safety risk.  The only solution that I can think of would be to place a barrier between the bypassing lanes and the turning traffic

That's exactly what is done in the real world examples given. For example: http://maps.google.com/?ll=28.721416,-81.319111&spn=0.003618,0.007086&t=h&layer=c&cbll=28.721483,-81.318924&panoid=ryCbZ9DCVKPErr-TtLamXQ&cbp=12,108.6,,2,2.6&z=18

[tradephoric]

^^^ There's no physical barrier preventing a driver turning left from General Hutchinson Pkwy from crossing into the right most lane of US 17 when making their turn (US 17 is posted at 50 MPH).  I can picture how a driver unfamiliar with the area may cross into the right most lane assuming ALL lanes of traffic on US 17 has a red light (a median sign and a hatched out lane line isn't enough to prevent this potentially dangerous maneuver, IMO). 

I'm all about keeping cars moving, but that intersection looks dangerous.

[NE2]

I found a safety analysis: http://www.trforum.org/journal/downloads/2011v50n1_01_SafetyAnalysis.pdf
Maybe someone who cares more can extract the relevant information.

[UptownRoadGeek]

That's exactly what is done in the real world examples given. For example: http://maps.google.com/?ll=28.721416,-81.319111&spn=0.003618,0.007086&t=h&layer=c&cbll=28.721483,-81.318924&panoid=ryCbZ9DCVKPErr-TtLamXQ&cbp=12,108.6,,2,2.6&z=18

That looks like it could be extremely dangerous from an outsiders POV. As someone above stated, there's nothing keeping turning traffic out of the far right lane. Honestly, what is the point in even having the left lane there if it's not going to bypass the intersection with its counterpart. If that was where I live you would have a crapload of people changing lanes and jumping over as soon as the light hits yellow. Another thing that I found confusing, probably because of how it's done where I'm from, was having 5 signals hanging over 3 lanes on the same post.

[NE2]

As someone above stated, there's nothing keeping turning traffic out of the far right lane.

There's a double white line with 1-2 feet between, and a dashed line to the right of the left turn movement indicating which lane you must turn into.

[UptownRoadGeek]

There's a double white line with 1-2 feet between, and a dashed line to the right of the left turn movement indicating which lane you must turn into.

I'm well aware of that. My question is, what keeps me from crossing that double white line by accident or just because...? It would be different if people actually followed rules.

[NE2]

I'm well aware of that. My question is, what keeps me from crossing that double white line by accident or just because...? It would be different if people actually followed rules.

What keeps you from running a red? Freemasons, I think.