Re: Traffic Control Box Destroyed
- From: Ralph Herman <rlaherman@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2009 21:34:30 -0800
On Tue, 13 Jan 2009 17:59:22 -0800, Andrew M. Saucci, Jr. wrote
(in article <1JKdnRD1ZYZP2_DUnZ2dnUVZ_uqdnZ2d@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>):
This morning on my way to work at 8 AM I hit a traffic jam at a
location where I don't normally expect to see one. I knew something was not
right, and as I approached an intersection with a traffic signal I saw that
the signals were totally dark, and the police had flares in the road to
force traffic to make the simplest manuevers for safety's sake. When I
finally reached the intersection, I saw the cause of the problem.
Apparently, someone drove straight into the freestanding control box right
at the curb. It was knocked almost completely off its base and the wiring
was exposed and obviously damaged.
Assuming that the box would need total replacement, how long would
such an operation normally take? They seem to have done a good job, because
by 7 PM a new box was in place and the signal operating normally.
Ironically, masts for a new signal had already been erected at this
intersection, but in my experience it may be another three to six months
before the new signal is ready for operation.
We had a similar incident a few months ago and I watched Burbank Public
Works do their thing. Most jurisdictions have some spare or unused signal
control boxes with components pre installed and wired ready to go on a
moment's notice. A truck mounted winch is used to remove the old and drop
in the new controller cabinet.
In my town, pretty much all of the newer signal control boxes and components
are standardized to Caltrans requirements, and a few of the really old
controllers are stored at the yard in case they are needed as replacements at
the older signal locations on the minor arterials.
Of course, each situation is unique, but it usually takes a few hours replace
and program a controller. The wiring has to be reattached, and the archived
signal timing program downloaded onto the controller hard drive, and the
controller tested for faults after installation.
Ralph
.
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