| Description: |
Traffic signals in Dare county are located
in a challenging environment that adds to the difficulties
in performing maintenance activities. Challenges such as
high winds and salt air degrade most materials if left unprotected
or unsecured. Signal heads which house the red, yellow, and
green indications suffer the most due being mounted above
the roadway and within direct sight of the breaking, ocean
waves. Because of the corrosive damage occurring to the signal
heads, electronic technicians had to replace them once every
three years. In addition the constant and sometimes high
winds would cause the tunnel visors to blow off the signal
heads. It was because of this continuous chore and associated
costs that it was decided to try a signal head made from
a different material.
After some research, the solution was to replace the standard
signal head made of painted aluminum with another made of UV
stabilized polycarbonate plastic. The polycarbonate plastic
material is colored yellow so there is no paint to flake off.
Due to the relative lightweight nature of polycarbonate heads,
the use of polycarbonate signal heads was limited to a rigid
mount on a metal mast arm. Span wire applications were avoided
because the wind would blow the signal heads out of position
and tear them apart.
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Result: |
After many installations of polycarbonate signal heads
since 1998, none have been replaced due to corrosion or high
winds. Success of the implementation was realized after Hurricane
Isabel when we found afterwards that none of the polycarbonate
signal heads were lost nor did they lose a tunnel visor..
The Division is saving $19,700 per year in reduced materials
and technician labor.
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