Guidelines for the Installation, Inspection, Maintenance and Repair of Structural Supports for Highway Signs, Luminaries, and Traffic Signals

PDF Version (6.3 mb)

3.1 Material Types
3.2 Corrosion Protection
3.3 Notch Toughness

4.1 General
4.2 Natural Wind Gusts
4.3 Truck-Induced Wind Gusts
4.4 Vortex Shedding
4.5 Galloping
4.6 Fatigue

5.1 General
5.2 Shop Inspection
5.3 Preparation for Erection
5.4 Erection Procedure

6.1 High-Strength Bolts
6.2 Stainless Steel Fasteners
6.3 Aluminum Fasteners
6.4 Installation of Bolts and Fasteners
6.5 Anchor Rods

6.5.1 General
6.5.2 Materials

6.6 Base Plate and Holes
6.7 Anchor Rod Joints
6.8 Installation of Anchor Rods
6.9 Procedures for Anchor Rod Tightening and Follow-Up Retightening

7.1 Collection of Inventory Information
7.2 Database Development
7.3 Example Inventory Checklist
7.4 Inventory Numbering

8.1 Types of Inspections

8.1.1 Initial Inspection
8.1.2 Routine
8.1.3 In-Depth
8.1.4 Interim Inspection
8.1.5 Damage Inspection

11.1 Suggested Personnel Requirements
11.2 Tools and Equipment
11.3 Traffic Control
11.4 Safety

12.1 Pre-Inspection Review of Available Materials (Desk Review)
12.2 Inspection Nomenclature

12.2.1 Sign Bridge
12.2.2 Cantilever Sign Structure
12.2.3 Mast Arm Structure
12.2.4 Signal Supports
12.2.5 Light Poles
12.2.6 Detailed Nomenclature
12.2.7 Orientation of Members

12.3 Sequence of Inspection

12.3.1 Sign Structures
12.3.2 Mast Arm Structures and Signal Supports
12.3.3 Light Poles and High Mast Lights

12.4 Non-Destructive Testing
12.5 Quality Control Plan

13.1 Element Definitions

14.1 PONTIS Element Definitions and Ratings

16.1 Prioritization of Work
16.2 Routine Maintenance

16.2.1 Foundations
16.2.2 Connections
16.2.3 Coatings

16.3 Repairs

16.3.1 Foundations

16.3.1.1 Concrete
16.3.1.2 Anchor Rods

16.3.2 End Frames and Posts

16.3.2.1 Gouges
16.3.2.2 Impact Damage
16.3.2.3 Corrosion

16.3.3 Trusses and Mast Arms

16.3.3.1 Connections
16.3.3.2 Cracks

16.3.4 Longitudinal Splits and Cracks
16.3.5 Composites for Repairs

16.3.5.1 Material Properties
16.3.5.2 Repair Examples

16.3.6 Vibration Dampeners

16.3.6.1 Types of Dampeners

Foundation - S.01
Anchor Bolts - S.02
Base Plate (s) - S.03
Towers - S.04
Tower to Truss/Chord/Arm Connection(s) - S.05
Truss Chords/Arms - S.06
Truss Struts - S.07
Cracks - S.08
Chord Splice Connection(s) - S.09
Sign Frame and L-Brackets - S.10
Sign Panels - S.11
Catwalk - S.12
Power and Luminaries - S.13
Sign Attachment(s) - S.15
Vertical Clearance, Camber and Alignment - S.16
Protection - S.17
Other - S.18

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1 Cantilever Sign Structure Failure
Figure 2 Failure of Weathering Steel Pole Note the Corrosion Product
Figure 3 Truck Passing Under VMS
Figure 4A Wind Effects
Figure 4B Wind Effects
Figure 5 Foundation Ready for Structure Installation
Figure 6 End Frame Being Set Onto Its Foundation
Figure 7 Assembled Truss Being Lifted Into Place
Figure 8 Star Pattern Tightening Sequence
Figure 9 Bent Anchor Rod
Figure 10 Headed Anchor Rod
Figure 11 Threaded-Shear-and-Uplift Joint
Figure 12 Double-Nut-Moment Joint
Figure 13 Four Anchor Rod Group in a Template Note Top is Galvanized
Figure 14 Template Secured to the Forms to Ensure Proper Alignment Note Anchor Rod Threads Taped to Prevent Contamination by Concrete
Figure 15 A Hydraulic Torque Wrench Tightening Anchor Rod Nuts to Achieve Needed Rotation
Figure 16 Inspector Measures Sign Panel During Inventory/Inspection Operation
Figure 17 Inspector Climbing Structure
Figure 18 Bucket Truck-Most Common Way to Access Sign Structure
Figure 19 Inspector Uses Double Lanyard System
Figure 20 Nomenclature Associated with Sign Bridge
Figure 21 Nomenclature for Ancillary Structure Tower Supports
Figure 22 Example-Truss to End Frame Connection Nomenclature
Figure 23 Sign Panel Support Components
Figure 24 Orientation of Overhead Sign Structures-New York State Department of Transportation
Figure 25 Hands on Inspection of Overhead Signs
Figure 26 Inspection of a Mast Arm Structure
Figure 27 Post to Arm Connection Showing Poor Fit-Up Due to Use of Incorrect Components
Figure 28 Loose Leveling Nuts on a High Mast Structure
Figure 29 High Mast Pole Slip Joint
Figure 30 Misaligned Luminaire Ring
Figure 31 Remotely Operated Inspection Device
Figure 32 Thickness Measurement at Critical Location of Structure Post
Figure 33 Ultrasonic Testing of Anchor Rods
Figure 34 Magnetic Particle Inspection of Weld at Post to Base Plate Connection
Figure 35 Base Plate with Added Anchor Rods
Figure 36 Repair Detail for Overhead Sign Truss Chord Crack
Figure 37 Repair of Truss Members Using FRP
Figure 38 Stockbridge Damper
Figure 39 Texas Flat Panel Damper
Figure 40 Wyoming Strand Damper

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1 Material Specifications
Table 2 Susceptibility of Types of Support Structures to Various Wind-Loading Phenomena
Table 3 Stainless Steel Bolts
Table 4 Installation Torque for Mild Steel Fasteners
Table 5 Tensile Properties for Anchor Rods
Table 6 Acceptable ASTM A563 Nut, Grade, Finish and Style and ASTM F436 Washer Type and Finish for Threaded Anchor Rods
Table 7 Nominal Anchor Rod Hole Dimensions
Table 8 Nut Rotation for Turn-Of-Nut Pretensioning
Table 9 Element Definitions
Table 10 Element Condition Rating
Table 11 Repair Priority Rating

(To view PDF files, you need the Acrobat® Reader®)