CATENARY LIGHTING

WHILE EMPLOYED IN WESTERN EUROPE FOR SOME TIME, CATENARY LIGHTING SYSTEMS REACHED NORTH AMERICA ONLY RECENTLY, ON THE RICHLIEU BRIDGE NEAR MONTREAL. THE SYSTEM COMPRISES AN ARRANGEMENT OF STEEL POLES, LOCATED IN THE MEDIAN STRIP OF A DIVIDED HIGHWAY AND CONNECTED BY CABLES FROM WHICH LUMINAIRES ARE SUSPENDED, SO THAT THE MAJOR AXIS OF THE LAMPS IS PARALLEL TO THE MAJOR AXIS OF THE HIGHWAY. EXPERIENCE AND LOCAL SITUATIONS HAVE PRODUCED SEVERAL REFINEMENTS IN INSTALLATION TECHNIQUES. THE SYSTEM HAS PROVED BOTH ECONOMICALLY AND TECHNICALLY PRACTICAL. TYPICALLY IT EMPLOYS LOW-PRESSURE SODIUM LAMPS OF 135--180 WATTS PUTTING OUT 183 LUMENS PER WATT. LUMINANCE DISTRIBUTION IS CALCULATED FOR AN APPLICATION IN WHICH FOUR LANES AND A SHOULDER ON EITHER SIDE OF THE MEDIAN ARE ILLUMINATED BY 180-WATT SODIUM LAMPS SPACED 18 METERS APART AT A HEIGHT OF 15 METERS. IN ADDITION TO THE GOOD UNIFORMITY SHOWN IN THIS EXAMPLE, THE CATENARY SYSTEM HAS ALSO BEEN FOUND TO PROVIDE EXCELLENT OPTICAL ORIENTATION AT ROAD BENDS AND COMPLICATED JUNCTIONS AND INTERSECTIONS. THE MEDIAN LOCATION ALSO HAS THE ADVANTAGE THAT ONLY ONE PASS IS REQUIRED FOR RELAMPING AND MAINTENANCE. DRIVER COMFORT AND CONFIDENCE HAVE BEEN FOUND TO BE INCREASED IN WET-PAVEMENT SITUATIONS BECAUSE OF THE REDUCTION OF BOTH DIRECT AND INDIRECT GLARE.

• Authors:
  • Lewis, R
• Publication Date: 1973-4

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 43-6
• Serial:
  • Lighting Design and Application
  • Volume: 3
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: Illuminating Engineering Society

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cables; Catenaries (Railroads); Divided highways; Drivers; Glare; Height; Lighting; Luminaires; Maintenance; Medians; Pavements; Sodium vapor lamps; Spacing; Standardization; Street lighting; Vision; Wet weather
• Uncontrolled Terms: Wet pavements
• Old TRIS Terms: Driver vision; Sodium lamps
• Subject Areas: Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Pavements; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00222209
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 12 1973 12:00AM