Unusual Street Lighting on Motorways Past and Present

[Jonathan24]

Apologies for resurrecting this thread but over the last few months, I've really become aware of how much of the high mast lighting in Northern Ireland is being removed, in favour of conventional columns and lanterns. For example:

Larne Road Roundabout - this was replaced quite a number of years ago
Seven Towers Roundabout - again, removed quite a number of years ago
Dunsilly Roundabout - removed in the last few months
Rathbeg Roundabout - in process of being removed
Carn Road Roundabout - shortly to be removed, even though it was already retrofitted with LEDs

The list goes on...

Perhaps the most significant stretch of high mast lighting we have left is on the M2 and I suspect that the only reason for that is because the PFI contract didn't specify the replacement of this street lighting or the conversion to LED (has about another 15 years to run).

Is the same thing happening across the rest of the UK, such that high mast lighting is now a rarity?

Whilst the majority of high mast lighting in NI has now been removed, it doesn't look like there is any imminent plan to remove it from here on the M2 - the lanterns are in the process of being replaced with LED lanterns (4 on each column).

[scott125]

Glasgow high mast lighting still alive and well.

[swissferry]

Glasgow high mast lighting still alive and well.

Some were replaced with normal height lighting when the M73 was widened. The high masts gave more uniform lighting.

[scott125]

Glasgow high mast lighting still alive and well.

Some were replaced with normal height lighting when the M73 was widened. The high masts gave more uniform lighting.

Yes, pretty lacklustre the new lighting on Scottish Motorways.