Severe weather can place significant strain on traffic signal infrastructure, especially during winter storms, high winds, and heavy precipitation. For municipalities, storms are not just a weather event. They are a stress test for public safety systems that must remain operational when conditions are at their worst.
As an upcoming storm approaches, it is a reminder of why properly installed and maintained traffic signal infrastructure matters.
High winds, freezing temperatures, ice accumulation, and vehicle accidents during storms can all compromise traffic signal systems. Common storm-related issues include damaged signal poles, stressed mast arms, compromised foundations, and exposed or flooded conduit systems.
When traffic signals fail during severe weather, the result is increased congestion, higher accident risk, and delayed emergency response times. Proactive infrastructure planning helps reduce these risks before a storm ever arrives.
While signal heads and mast arms are visible, the most critical components of traffic signal infrastructure are often underground. Properly designed caissons, correctly installed conduit, and stable foundations are essential for withstanding wind loads, temperature shifts, and saturation caused by storms.
Infrastructure that has been installed or repaired without attention to these details is far more likely to experience failure during severe weather events.
Storm conditions often lead to increased vehicular incidents at intersections. Reduced visibility, slick roadways, and congestion raise the likelihood of vehicles striking signal poles and mast arms.
Having an experienced traffic signal contractor available to respond quickly after a storm is critical. Timely repairs help restore intersection safety, minimize downtime, and reduce long-term damage to surrounding infrastructure.
Lighthouse works with municipalities to support traffic signal infrastructure both proactively and in response to severe weather. From planned replacements and foundation upgrades to emergency repairs following storm-related incidents, our focus is on long-term reliability and public safety.
Our experience with pole and mast arm replacement, caisson installation, and conduit work allows us to address storm-related challenges efficiently and correctly, even in high-traffic or time-sensitive environments.
Storms are unpredictable, but infrastructure performance should not be. Municipalities that invest in proactive inspections, timely replacements, and qualified contractors are better positioned to maintain safe intersections during severe weather events.
As this upcoming storm approaches, it is an opportunity to evaluate infrastructure readiness and identify areas that may need attention before conditions worsen.
Lighthouse remains committed to supporting communities with reliable traffic signal solutions that hold up when they are needed most.
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