Vertical and horizontal traffic signals in the same city

[Scott5114]

The latest batch of traffic signals in downtown Oklahoma City is mounted horizontally. The area in question is the main central business district, not the Bricktown entertainment district to the immediate east. However, this seems to be limited to just this area; signals outside the core are still being posted vertically. There are even intersections downtown with new horizontal signals and old vertical signals for different legs of the same intersection.

Are there any other cities mixing and matching like this? Why would a city transition from vertical to horizontal, and why for only part of the city? (In before "Oklahoma".)

[Brandon]

Chicago has them, but the horizontal signals are usually mounted around overpasses.

Some examples:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.844835,-87.685397,3a,75y,317.52h,82.21t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1scrCB2NFW7NF_KDEhqtJMMg!2e0

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.816734,-87.743425,3a,75y,150.91h,87.79t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sDZyYUISFTmFCF645ZUMqqQ!2e0

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.7515,-87.585685,3a,35.8y,349.34h,89.08t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sy_aiXJ5myoydaobEksVKmA!2e0

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.932098,-87.694325,3a,75y,311.79h,92.31t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sT9RX0UoQoR0UtQ0bkF1NPw!2e0

How about on the same mastarm?

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.924923,-87.68181,3a,15y,292.04h,91.42t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sXruasKGok5GS3eaXcMTz3A!2e0

[DaBigE]

Aesthetic treatment? That would be my only guess as to why only a certain part of a city, unless it's the first area as part of a systematic improvement. What kind of arms are these being mounted to, mast arms or monotubes? Mast arms scream horizontal mount, as they don't require additional hardware, at least with a signal mounted to the far end of the mast arm (old Wisconsin typical). That said, there is an intersection about a mile from my home which has vertically-mounted signals on a mast arm. The orientation in Wisconsin generally comes with the arm type (monotubes = vertical, mast arms = horizontal). The exception is that WisDOT explicitly states that a maximum of two signals can be vertically-mounted on a mast arm.

There are several intersections with a mix of mounting styles in the greater Madison area. Most recently, a good stretch of Johnson St was reconstructed just north of downtown Madison. Many of the intersections use the traditional Wisconsin horizontal mounted mast arm, but at least two of them use the new monotubes with vertically mounted signals. There's one intersection in Sun Prairie which has both the same intersection. Again, this looks like a cost-saving measure. When the lanes/movements don't require multiple heads, they go with the horizontal mast-arm mount. I've seen this commonly for FYA installations (as is the case in Sun Prairie: see https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=5016.msg178214#msg178214).

[freebrickproductions]

Huntsville has horizontal signals located around the city, although most of them are vertical. Some of the horizontal ones in Huntsville are mounted to provide better visibility from under overpasses or over hills and others are installed to provide better height clearance, but there are some in downtown that appear to be installed horizontally for looks as far as I know.

[Pink Jazz]

Not sure if this counts, but in New Mexico the through signals are generally mounted horizontally, but left turn signals are frequently on a pedestal on the median and are mounted vertically.

[PHLBOS]

This mixture of vertical & horizontal signalheads at this intersection in Upper Darby Twp., PA (Westbrook Park section) is still around. 

The horizontal signalheads are older; the vertical signalheads replaced similar-vintaged horizontal signalheads when the signals were upgraded to include left-arrow cycles.

[Scott5114]

These signals are mounted on monotubes, and have curved back plates that wrap around toward the tube. I wonder if it's due to wind in the dense downtown core. I don't have access to GSV right now, but you can see them on most intersections in downtown OKC. I've seen new installations outside the core, and they use the standard vertical yellow signals with black backplate that OKC has used for 20 years.

There are a few intersections in Lawton, OK, that have vertical straight thru signals and horizontal left turn signals. That's an interesting idea.

[Rick1962]

Yukon (suburb of Oklahoma City) is mounting new signals horizontally, and the ODOT plans for a new signal installation at S.H. 20 & 140th East Ave. in Owasso show the signal heads to be horizontal.  New ODOT standard?

[NYhwyfan]

US 62/I-190 Niagara Falls, NY - Horizontally mounted as a result of close proximity to overpass

https://www.google.com/maps/@43.089686,-78.990698,3a,75y,262.95h,84.79t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1srBMksLNe8vuCDnvS59DecQ!2e0

https://www.google.com/maps/@43.089531,-78.989798,3a,75y,359.04h,88.38t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1srXwBuzmHA89x6KkViqkdJQ!2e0

[PHLBOS]

Horizontally-stacked signalheads are generally a rare sight in Massachusetts.

However, the latest drawbridge signals for the General Edwards Bridge at the Lynn/Revere line appear to be an exception.  Previous-generation (prior to the late-80s) signals for this bridge were conventional post-mounted vertically-stacked signalheads.

MA 1A Northbound General Edwards Bridge Approach

MA 1A Southbound General Edwards Bridge Approach

All other signals in both Lynn & Revere are conventional vertically-stacked signalheads.

[busman_49]

Cincinnati has horizontal signals downtown, but vertical signals elsewhere throughout the city.

[jwags]

Here's one from Wisconsin with horizontal on one side of the light and then a vertical mounted behind it.

https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=43.194836,-88.72878&spn=0.001678,0.004128&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=43.194852,-88.728908&panoid=fGVbYNZ52D_rflDSGOZjKw&cbp=12,97.93,,0,-1.35

[DaBigE]

Here's one from Wisconsin with horizontal on one side of the light and then a vertical mounted behind it.

https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=43.194836,-88.72878&spn=0.001678,0.004128&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=43.194852,-88.728908&panoid=fGVbYNZ52D_rflDSGOZjKw&cbp=12,97.93,,0,-1.35

That Watertown, WI intersection has a lot of signalization "abnormalities"...one of 'em being indications placed in the wrong positions (look at where the green ball is on the vertical signal on the far left of that street view capture).

[NYhwyfan]

Cayuga Dr/NY 33 west - Cheektowaga, NY

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.92979,-78.743953,3a,75y,20.25h,73.45t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1skaThAXvOqoErjTbXbjv6Aw!2e0

[SignGeek101]

What about horizontal and vertical traffic signals at the same interesection?! 

http://goo.gl/maps/B6CBm

[Big John]

Here's one from Wisconsin with horizontal on one side of the light and then a vertical mounted behind it.

https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=43.194836,-88.72878&spn=0.001678,0.004128&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=43.194852,-88.728908&panoid=fGVbYNZ52D_rflDSGOZjKw&cbp=12,97.93,,0,-1.35

Further down the street: https://www.google.com/maps/@43.194293,-88.724108,3a,75y,257.75h,92.14t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1souO9N6hchab0ngaQCF7hQA!2e0?hl=en

[jwags]

Here's one from Wisconsin with horizontal on one side of the light and then a vertical mounted behind it.

https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=43.194836,-88.72878&spn=0.001678,0.004128&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=43.194852,-88.728908&panoid=fGVbYNZ52D_rflDSGOZjKw&cbp=12,97.93,,0,-1.35

That Watertown, WI intersection has a lot of signalization "abnormalities"...one of 'em being indications placed in the wrong positions (look at where the green ball is on the vertical signal on the far left of that street view capture).

I've driven through that intersection hundreds of times and I've never noticed that. Good catch.

[DaBigE]

Another fine Wisconsin example: Wis 60 @ Wis 83

[Big John]

Another fine Wisconsin example: Wis 60 @ Wis 83

Off topic but 2 quadrants have 1-section pedestrian signals and the other 2 have 2-section pedestrian signals.  On the 2-section signals, both are displaying the orange don't walk hand (and I checked all 4 of them doing the same thing): https://www.google.com/maps/@43.317772,-88.378887,3a,75y,73.01h,78.87t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1stAZsWTfBKhURz5L4j-AWgw!2e0

[roadman65]

How about the same intersection.
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.701449,-74.271983,3a,75y,290.56h,90t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1su22WFSCGa916Vb928I_7Bg!2e0

[DaBigE]

Another fine Wisconsin example: Wis 60 @ Wis 83

Off topic but 2 quadrants have 1-section pedestrian signals and the other 2 have 2-section pedestrian signals.  On the 2-section signals, both are displaying the orange don't walk hand (and I checked all 4 of them doing the same thing): https://www.google.com/maps/@43.317772,-88.378887,3a,75y,73.01h,78.87t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1stAZsWTfBKhURz5L4j-AWgw!2e0

Yeah, Hartford's been doing that since LED pedestrian signals were first installed in the early 2000s. There's a couple more ped signals like that along Wis 60: another example. The top section is the hand only, the bottom is bimodal walk and hand.

[PHLBOS]

What about horizontal and vertical traffic signals at the same interesection?! 

http://goo.gl/maps/B6CBm

In addition to your example, see my earlier-posted Upper Darby, PA intersection (Reply #5) example for mixed horizontal & vertical signalheads.

[roadman65]

It all depends on what parts are available when a specific signal head wears out, or if the whole entire assembly gets old, fails inspection etc.  It sometimes is easier to do it that way then wait around for the right part to be added.

Plus do some of the people in the road departments really care about aesthetics anyway?  Heck here in Florida we have some intersections that replace a worn out mast arm assembly or one that gets hit by a vehicle with a span wire.  The intersection of John Young Parkway and the First Baptist Church entrance in Orlando had the pole for NB JYP get removed and instead of using another mast arm assembly to replace it with they drove two telephone poles into the ground on both sides of JYP and strung a wire across and hung the three signal heads on it. 

[Brandon]

What about horizontal and vertical traffic signals at the same interesection?! 

http://goo.gl/maps/B6CBm

In addition to your example, see my earlier-posted Upper Darby, PA intersection (Reply #5) example for mixed horizontal & vertical signalheads.

That's SOP for CDOT in Chicago with an overpass.  See my examples in Reply #1.

[freebrickproductions]

Here's a couple of intersections around Huntsville with both horizontal and vertical traffic lights:
http://www.instantstreetview.com/@34.718504,-86.573605,6.29h,4.56p,1z

http://www.instantstreetview.com/@34.66593,-86.572357,150.43h,-1.77p,1z

http://www.instantstreetview.com/@34.732533,-86.586116,-50.05h,0.17p,1z

http://www.instantstreetview.com/@34.725933,-86.595833,-12.78h,0.52p,1z