Freeways with High Mast lighting

[Sydney Claridge 106]

After being on a section of Interstate 635 in Dallas with high mast lighting, I was wondering: What is your opinion on freeways with high mast lighting?  By freeways with high mast lighting, I mean linear sections of freeway mainline, not at major interchanges.  Below are some examples of freeways that I know of with high mast lighting:

Dallas:

- Interstate 635 from US 75 (High Five) to US 80 (gap in high mast lighting from Centerville to IH 30 at the time of this post, high mast lighting will be added on this segment)

- President George Bush Turnpike from terminus with SH 161 to Interstate 635

- US 75 elevated from Woodall Rodgers Freeway (Spur 366) to just south of IH 30

Houston:

- Interstate 45 from just north of The Woodlands to just south of Beltway 8 south (gap from Rayford-Sawdust exit to just south of Hardy Toll Rd)

- Interstate 10 from Katy to IH 610 East

- Countless more examples...

Toronto:

- Many 400-series highways and area freeways

[Haljackey 17,355]

High-mast lighting is good.  It dramatically improves visability during dark periods, thus making it a huge safety asset.

Heres a pic

[hamsterTK 93]

Personally I like it

Some have issues with it regarding light pollution. I may be mistaken but I believe there is a style of light that is more focused so even if that does come it can be dealt with

[Gecko_2006 1]

Light pollution is a big issue with them, but I love them. They're both attractively designed, and very efficient. I'm pretty sure they've created a type of lighting that is bright, but doesn't affect the night sky... I'm not really sure about it though. I can look out my window right now and see high-mast lights because I live so close to I-10.

[MadTV_Freak 0]

Lol... I have never in my life heard of "Light Pollution"... anyways, I dont know what.. but everytime I see that pic... its amazes me, I guess its a really cool highway

[Duke87 1,070]

Well, high mast lighting is virtually nonexistent in the northeastern US. The first time I ever saw it firsthand was when my family drove out to Cleveland a few years ago.

My guess as to why it's rare here is that most of our highways or older, and it hadn't been thought of yet when they were built.

I guess the other thing is that they inevitably end up lighting up areas that don't need to be lit up. Only the highway itself needs the light. The grass off to the side and between the highway and the exit ramp is dead ground, and can be left dark, which it is to a greater degree with normal lighting than high mast lighting.

Now, I will agree that "light pollution" is definitely an issue with them. Which means you shouldn't use them in residential areas.

Also, some highways around here don't have lights at all. This is a common treatment for parkways (with no trucks allowed) and for highways out in rural areas, where car headlights really suffice, and the lighting would be more expensive to install and power than it's really worth.

However, interstates in rural areas with no general lighting still often have lighting where there's an interchange (makes sense).

Another interesting lighting issue is that all over NYC, BGSs mounted on sign bridges often have lights directly shining on them at night as opposed to being made reflective. Leave the city, and you won't find it anywhere. Must be the NYC DOT's idea.

But you know what else you can often find a lot of on the highways in NYC? Old signs. We're talking button copy signs that must date back at least to the invention of the MUTCD. You can also find dirty old shields and things if you look in out of the way places. Ancient street lights are also known to thrive under overpasses and off in low trafficked corners. And when I say ancient, I mean even up to 80 years old here.

[DOXXP29 5]

Funny you should mention button copy signs, Duke. They were phased out in the D.C. area years ago and replaced by reflective paint signs that are supposedly better. Last week we were driving and I actually found an old button copy sign for our beltway that they must have forgotten. (Route 1 southbound at the 495 south exit in College Park.) There's another one in Baltimore on 295 northbound for I-95 north to New York. One common complaint about the highways in the area (Maryland is bad, but D.C. is horrible!) is the lack of lighting on the highways. Many stretches have literally NO lighting at all. Some have lights poles (not high mast) where the majority are not functional for whatever reason. Others just don't have ANY lighting at all. Strange for interstate highways. Stretches of I-95 in Maryland will be pretty much unlighted, then an exit comes up and there is high mast lighting and the difference is, well, night and day. Similar conditions exist on I-70. Long stretches on the BW Parkway and the southern part of I-295 in D.C. and dangerously dark with the only light provided is from vehicles' headlights. It's interesting to note that many of Maryland's major STATE highways have much better illumination than the interstates. Drivers have been complaining about lighting conditions for years and high mast lighting has been talked about by the local transportation authorities, but it never seems to happen.

[belfastuniguy 18]

We have several examples of high mast lighting being used in the UK. In particular to Northern Ireland, the most important sections on the M1 and M2, most of which lead to/from Belfast,  have high masted lighting. The M2 is the widest motorway (freeway) in Ireland and one of a few 10 lane motorways in the UK. Some pics below.

[Camaron 1]

High mast lighting does seem to becoming a favoured option here in the UK, some motorways and major A roads near me have them on busy sections near junctions and cities. However most of the time there is no lighting at all, good old cats eyes help make up for that though, which you can find on nearly all major roads in the UK.

[Sydney Claridge 106]

Speaking of UK motorways, I saw pictures that the M8 in Glasgow has high mast lighting.  I never thought the UK used high mast lighting like that (I thought it was used at only interchanges in the UK, until I saw an aerial view of the M8, but I guess I was wrong...).  If anybody could tell me the limits of this high-mast lit segment of the M8, I'll add it to my examples...

[Cleatis 0]

The best example of high mast lighting that sticks in my mind is the main highway running out of Kuwait City into Iraq. During the Gulf War, it was called the "Highway of Death" because of all the bombed out vehicles that were left behind by the retreating Iraqi Army. Today, it's a long ribbon of highway illuminated for it's entire length by high mast lighting. What struck me about it was, for the most part, it's in the middle of the Kuwaiti desert. It's actually perfect for that situation. It's extremely dark out there at night and the extra illumination in the median and on the shoulders provides plenty of light in case of a breakdown or a wreck on the highway.

As an aside, something else out there tickled my funny bone a little bit. Off the northbound lane, some distance from the city, I spotted a Burger King. What tickled me was seeing the words "Burger King" in Arabic. It was the English name spelled with Semetic letters. I found out later how common that is over there. Kuwait City is a very interesting place.

[Socorocks 7]

The only places we have that kind of highway lighting in Southern California is at freeway interchanges with high stacks and flyover ramps. They make sense there, because the'res more levels to be lit, but it just seems kind of wasteful and unnecessary over single highways.

[villagemayor 0]

I like the high mast lighting because the light is more even, no dark spots. HWY 401 is a 16 lane highway, and if the old light poles were to be replaced, it would be very expensive and time consuming to replace.

[Catcher_of_Cats 0]

The Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (in Canada) is using high-mast lighting exclusively whenever they reconstruct a highway, whether it is in a urban area or not. They use less electricity, there are far less shadows on the road making it safer to drive, and they are LESS light polluting then conventional lights because they focus there light straight down at the road surface.

[get13 0]

Originally posted by: Houston_Fan Speaking of UK motorways, I saw pictures that the M8 in Glasgow has high mast lighting.  I never thought the UK used high mast lighting like that (I thought it was used at only interchanges in the UK, until I saw an aerial view of the M8, but I guess I was wrong...).  If anybody could tell me the limits of this high-mast lit segment of the M8, I'll add it to my examples...quote>

The M8 is lit entirely with high mast lighting throughout the whole Glasgow area. It is often considered the most "American" motorway in the UK as it is the only UK motorway that cuts directly through a city centre and has some insanely wide sections. At the M8/M77 merge it is 16 lanes wide. The gantries used on Glasgow motorways are unique to this region and arn't present anywhere else in the UK.

[daniel01 0]

In my opinion i think that high - mast lighting is good because it helps people see more better when on the road, than the normal lights on a Freeway. 

Here are some pictrues of Melbourne's Westgate Fwy and Bridge pictures with these high - mast lights

 

daniel01

[Sydney Claridge 106]

Well, it looks like I have discovered another Texas freeway outside Houston with high-mast lighting -- this time in the state's capital. If I recall correctly, IH-35 from Parmer Lane to Wells Branch Parkway in Austin has high-mast lighting (I just recall a part of IH-35 north of Austin having high-mast lighting). It seems very new, as well (there seemed to be construction along there, as well). Before I add it to my list, I would like confirmation if possible).  By the way, I also managed to get pictures of it, so when they get developed and scanned (I also have the Austin toll roads on there), I can show them to you.

[Haljackey 17,355]

Hey, nice pictures of the high mast lighting get13 and daniel01

[Santonel 0]

How is the high five coming along? Is it done?

[hamsterTK 93]

Originally posted by Get13:

quote>

Wow

that picture looks like it couldve been taken in a US city

[Kippis05 2]

Originally posted by: MadTV_Freak Lol... I have never in my life heard of "Light Pollution"... anyways, I dont know what.. but everytime I see that pic... its amazes me, I guess its a really cool highway quote>

 

Sure... it's pollution, with light in it  

Anyway, I've seen mast lighting in use all over Chicagoland as well, used pretty much on every highway system in the area. Great advantages to conventional poles because one it uses one mast instead of 10-15 smaller poles, and two lights a massive area with little light and power used.

-Brandon

[Deathamphetimine 2]

well, living mostly in California and Florida, It's very commenplace. Busy freeways and major roads need to be well light, right?

[DFire870 2]

Originally posted by: Houston_Fan Well, it looks like I have discovered another Texas freeway outside Houston with high-mast lighting -- this time in the state's capital. If I recall correctly, IH-35 from Parmer Lane to Wells Branch Parkway in Austin has high-mast lighting (I just recall a part of IH-35 north of Austin having high-mast lighting). It seems very new, as well (there seemed to be construction along there, as well). Before I add it to my list, I would like confirmation if possible).  By the way, I also managed to get pictures of it, so when they get developed and scanned (I also have the Austin toll roads on there), I can show them to you.quote>

Yes, that's correct. I live in the Austin area, and that area you talked about, they're replacing the concrete barrier and rebuilding the Yager Lane overpass (widening it).

There's also high mast lighting around some of the major interchanges, including the new interchange at IH-35 and SH 45 (the new toll road).

[Masonic 0]

Originally posted by: Duke87 Well, high mast lighting is virtually nonexistent in the northeastern US.quote>

I disagree i live in the "northeastern" us a i see it all the time,

click link for a picture of I-190 in Worcester MA

http://www.interstate-guide.com/images151/i-190_ma_st_12.jpg