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PostPosted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 7:53 pm 
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I thought I'd start up a new thread given the specific subject.

Let's start off by discussing Hampshire's policy towards illuminating motorway junctions. I struggle to make sense of the policy that was applied in the past when the motorways and junctions were first constructed. In general Hampshire had a policy of keeping motorway junctions unlit, and a lot of this can still be seen to this day. However, some junctions have been lit from the outset, and on the face of things it is difficult understanding why some favoured lighting when other seemingly more important junctions did not. So, here's a bit of a list:

M3

J4a (circa. 1992), HDC - lit since construction (originally Philips SGS203)
J5 (1971), HDC - unlit since construction
J6 (1971), BDBC - unlit since construction
J7 (1971), BDBC - unlit since construction
J8 (1971), BDBC - unlit since construction
J9 (1985), WCC - unlit since construction
J10 (1994), WCC - unlit since construction
J11 (1994), WCC - partially lit since construction (originally Philips SGS204)
J12 (1991), EBC - lit since construction (originally Philips MA60)
J13 (1967/91), EBC - road through junction lit prior to motorway or predecessor
J14 (1975/91), EBC - originally unlit, lit since A33-M3 motorway upgrade (originally Philips MA60)

M27

J1 (1975), NFDC- unlit since construction
J2 (1975), NFDC - unlit since construction
J3 (1975), TVDC - originally unlit, lit since circa. late 1980s (originally Philips MA60)
J4 (1975/84), TVDC - originally unlit, partially lit in late 1980s (originally GEC Z8536), fully lit circa. 1994 (Urbis ZX4)
J5 (1983), EBC - originally unlit, lit since circa. 1986)
J7 (1978), EBC - lit since construction (originally GEC Z9554M)
J8 (1975), EBC - lit since construction (originally Philips MA5)
J9 (1975), WCC - originally unlit, lit since circa. 1985)
J10 (1976), FBC - lit since construction (originally Philips MA60)
J11 (1976), FBC - lit since construction (originally Philips MA50)
J12 (1976), PCC - lit since construction (originally Philips MA60)

M271

J1 (1975), TVDC - unlit since construction

A3(M)

J1 (1979), EHDC - lit since construction (originally Philips MA90)
J2 (1979), EHDC - unlit since construction
J3 (1979), HBC - unlit since construction
J4 (1979), HBC - road through junction lit prior to motorway
J5 (1979), HBC - road through junction lit prior to motorway or predecessor

Some patterns. None of the motorway junctions in New Forest District, Test Valley District or Basingstoke and Deane Borough were lit at the outset, and with the exception of a roundabout at M3 J11 none of the junctions in Winchester City Council's area were lit at the outset. However, Portsmouth's junctions (and motorways) and Fareham Borough's junctions were lit from the outset. In East Hampshire District and Havant Borough junctions have only been lit where junctions were built on existing roads rather than with new link roads. In Eastleigh Borough all but one junction have been lit from the outset. So, perhaps it was a local authority preference which explains how junctions connecting trunk roads ended up unlit whilst simple motorway spurs to the old road sometimes ended up lit.

The next question is how M27 J10 came to receive 12m columns and Philips MA60s whilst M27 J11 nearby only received 10m columns and Philips MA50s, even though the carriageway widths around J11 are typically wider and J11 is busier and has strategically been far more important since the M27 was completed in 1984.


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PostPosted: Thu Sep 11, 2014 6:09 pm 
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South Hampshire's motorways and motorway links were built in different sections. Here are some observations.

M3 J12-14, upgrade opened in 1991
Unpainted galvanised Stainton octagonal steel columns and Philips MA60s. Junction 12, along with the M3 from just north of junction 13 all the way to its terminus plus associated slip roads received geared MA60s.

M27 J1-4, opened in 1975
None of the mainline M27, nor the M271 or any of the junctions or link roads had lighting installed.

M27 J4-7, opened in 1983/4
Unpainted galvanised Stainton octagonal steel columns and GEC "Bricks". The mainline M27 was illuminated with geared "Bricks" (Z9553 and Z9563) around junction 7. Where Stoneham Lane and Wide Lane met the new motorway link roads near junction 5 they used small Z9541 "Bricks". Junction 5 and the link roads were originally unlit. At Chilworth, the rebuilt Chilworth Roundabout and A33 bridge over the M27 was lit with large Z9561 "Bricks".

M27 J7-8, opened in 1978
Unpainted galvanised PetitJean octagonal steel columns and GEC lanterns. Junction 7 and its link roads were illuminated with Z9554Ms, although evidence has not been found to date whether Charles Watts Way east of the junction was originally lit or not. The M27 between junctions 7 and 8 was lit with experimental catenary lighting featuring ZD4565 "Bricks" and 90m catenary spans. The east facing slip roads at junction 7 were lit, but the west facing slip roads at junction 8 were not.

M27 J8-12 and M275, opened in 1975/6
Grey painted galvanised PetitJean octagonal steel columns and Philips lanterns. The earliest parts, being junction 8 and its link roads along with the Swanwick Lane overbridge, was lit with MA5 and MI8 lanterns respectively. The later parts, being the A32 under junction 10, junction 11 and its link roads, and the whole M27 and M275 in Portsmouth, were lit with MA50s and MA60s. Old photos of the M27 in Portsmouth suggest columns on the motorway were painted, as the columns didn't have the same galvanised appearance as the equally new crash barriers. However, lighting installed on Mile End Road was not painted.

A27 (near motorway) and A3(M), upgraded/opened in 1979/80
Unpainted galvanised PetitJean/Stainton octagonal steel columns and GEC/Philips lanterns. The A27 from Portsbridge to Farlington received geared Z9563 "Bricks", whilst the A27 from Farlington to Broadmarsh received geared Z8536 "Turtles". The A27 slip roads at Farlington received geared Z9553 "Bricks". The A3(M) west facing slip roads onto the A27, the west facing slip roads for the Broadmarsh junction and the A27 beneath this junction featured geared Philips MA50s and MA60s. The Broadmarsh junction was illuminated with Z9554Ms. None of the intermediate motorway junctions or links on the A3(M) specifically received lighting, but new lighting on local roads utilised Z9454s.


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PostPosted: Fri Sep 12, 2014 4:03 pm 
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sotonsteve wrote:

M27 J8-12 and M275, opened in 1975/6
Grey painted galvanised PetitJean octagonal steel columns and Philips lanterns. The earliest parts, being junction 8 and its link roads along with the Swanwick Lane overbridge, was lit with MA5 and MI8 lanterns respectively. The later parts, being the A32 under junction 10, junction 11 and its link roads, and the whole M27 and M275 in Portsmouth, were lit with MA50s and MA60s. Old photos of the M27 in Portsmouth suggest columns on the motorway were painted, as the columns didn't have the same galvanised appearance as the equally new crash barriers. However, lighting installed on Mile End Road was not painted.


Correct the columns on the M27 at Paulsgrove and on the M275 were painted. The M275 technically ended at the Rudmore roundabout prior to the building of the flyover, so Mile End road was Portsmouth City Council hence the difference.

When the Petit Jeans and MA60s were replaced by the current lighting, the old columns from the M275 and M27 at J12, with brackets and lanterns removed, were stored for several weeks at the far east end of the J9 east bound on slip. For those Ukastle members not familiar with the area, this is an extended slip road with several hundred yards of "spare" carriageway past the merge with the main carriageway. There were separate piles of columns, brackets and lanterns.

When the M27 was widened west of J12 at Paulsgrove in 2008, 18 of the columns with the quad optic ZX4s were removed and have never been replaced. The columns are in 2 sections and the top section complete with the ZX4 was placed between the crash barriers in the central reservation - column on ground at one end and resting on one end of the lantern at the other. They were removed entirely with  the lower section of the columns a few days later.

When the widening work started a few weeks later at Rownhams, west of J4, the same approach was used with the columns being removed back to the M3 merge.


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PostPosted: Sun Sep 14, 2014 2:49 pm 
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sotonsteve wrote:

Let's start off by discussing Hampshire's policy towards illuminating motorway junctions.


M27

J9 (1975), WCC - originally unlit, lit since circa. 1985)
J10 (1976), FBC - lit since construction (originally Philips MA60)

The next question is how M27 J10 came to receive 12m columns and Philips MA60s whilst M27 J11 nearby only received 10m columns and Philips MA50s, even though the carriageway widths around J11 are typically wider and J11 is busier and has strategically been far more important since the M27 was completed in 1984.


As you have already noted, the columns at J10 are being excavated for replacement by the PFI. The same is also now happening at J9.

J11 may have only got 10m columns given the link road is elevated - passing through a cutting to the crest of a hill and 10m columns may have been used to limit the visual intrusion.


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PostPosted: Fri Sep 19, 2014 8:56 am 
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At J10, on the northbound carriageway of the A32, new verge mounted columns are now in place. It looks like that as at J11, the central reservation lighting will be removed.


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PostPosted: Fri Sep 26, 2014 3:30 pm 
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Replacement works on the A27 Segensworth Link to J9 are just about complete. One new column requires a lantern, and all but 2 of the original columns have been removed - they have have already had their brackets and lanterns removed.


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PostPosted: Sat Oct 04, 2014 10:51 am 
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Phosco152 wrote:
At J10, on the northbound carriageway of the A32, new verge mounted columns are now in place. It looks like that as at J11, the central reservation lighting will be removed.


The original central reservation mounted lighting has now been completely removed.


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PostPosted: Sat Mar 21, 2015 10:42 am 
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Work to replace the ZX4s at junction 12 of the M27 started this week. The M275 to M27 east and west link roads have been done outbound from Portsmouth, but not yet inbound. The existing ZX4s are mounted to flange plates at the top of the columns and these have been retained when the lanterns were removed as the flanges are integral to the columns. However the column protrudes a few inches past the top surface of the flange plate, this protrusion being inside the lantern. How the new side entry brackets have been fitted over these protrusions is not yet clear. The brackets are in aluminium and are of the type used with passively safe aluminium columns.

The new lanterns are Lumas. Some of the lanterns at the junction are currently day burning, including the ZX4s.

The columns that are fitted to the bridges of the junction are considered to have life expired fixing studs. Rather than replace the fixings which would mean drilling of the bridge parapets, the decision has been taken to install new columns. One such example is now located in the ground prior to the bridge rather than on it, and is of aluminium, rather than the galvanised steel of the original. The existing column has yet to be removed, although its metal number plate has been removed.

The carriageway is marked near other bridges for locations of new columns - yet to be installed.


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PostPosted: Sat Mar 21, 2015 4:29 pm 
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Now with pictures! As the saying goes, a picture saves a thousand words.

New Luma, on new bracket attached to existing flange that held a ZX4 - single optic version. The issue of the column tube protruding past the top of the flange plate has been solved by the use of a polypropylene spacer. This will also seal the flange plate against ingress of water. New Luma has RF node, previous lanterns were group switched.

Image

The old and the new, quad optic ZX4s on the M27 mainline carriageway and a twin Luma conversion on the M275 north to M27 west link road.

Image

Sotonsteve and I have always wondered if the quad optic ZX4s used on the M27 were 4x250W or 4x400W SON, we never came to a definitive conclusion. However recent research by sotonsteve had suggested that they were 400W in the centre optics and 250W in the outer ones. The dayburning of the mainline lighting has indeed confirmed this - the inner optics are brighter.

Image

Another view of the conversions in process. Lumas on the M275 north to A27 west link road, single optic ZX4s on the M275 north to M27 west link. Quad optic ZX4s on the M27 mainline, and in the far distance, twin optic ZX4s on the A27 link to the M275 southbound.

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PostPosted: Sat Mar 21, 2015 5:06 pm 
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Even though I like the ZX4s, I do like the way in which the columns have been converted to LED operation. It's a bit unusual, and retains the "Belgian" feel of the lighting.


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