634 Foundations for wooden poles shall be excavated to dimensions slightly larger than the pole diameter and the excavation around the pole shall be backfilled with suitable random material in horizontal layers no t to exceed 4 inches after compaction. Each lift shall be compacted to the satisfaction of the Engineer. Testing is not required. Depth of the pole foundation shall be as specified on the Plans. A device to hold the wooden pole in place with the proper rake until backfilling is complete shall be provided. Blocks wedged between the excavation and the pole are not acceptable. Ground rods shall be ¾ inch in diameter with a minimum length as shown on the Plans and shall be one piece. Sectional or segmented ground rods are not permitted. All signal supports shall have ground rods. The ground rods shall be complete with ground clamp and square head bolt. 660.9 -LOOP TRAFFIC DETECTORS : Installation shall conform to the details and notes shown on the Plans. Slots cut in the pavement for the loop conductor shall be neat and true to the dimensions shown on the Plans. Slots shall be blown out and dried before loop conductors are installed. The # 14 THWN stranded loop conductor shall run continuous and unspliced from the roadway loop to a junction box or condulet as indicated in the Plans. Each loop shall consist of a single separate wire and shall be connected to the detector by a separat e lead -in wire. The loops shall consist of three turns of wire, unless otherwise specified. All loop wire installation shall be made without damage to the wire or its insulation and all damaged wires shall be replaced. The wire must be so placed that th ere are no kinks or curls and no straining or stretching of the insulation. It shall be installed and secured as deep in the slot as possible. A blunt object, similar to wooden paint stirrer shall be used to seat the loop wire. A screwdriver or other sh arp tool shall not be used for this purpose. Prior to placing the loop slot sealant, the loop wire shall be checked for continuity, resistance and insulation integrity. Insulation integrity shall be checked by applying a megger between each end of the lo op wire and the nearest reliable electrical -ground street light, fire hydrant, etc. If no available ground exists, a suitable ground shall be established for the measurement, (e.g., driven metal spike). The megger reading shall be in excess of ten megohms under all conditions, (500 volts DC). The continuity and megger checks shall be recorded by the Engineer. Lead -in wire from the loop conductor to the detector terminal strip shall be two # 14 AWG solid copper. The lead -in wire shall also be continuous and unspliced from junction box or condulet to the detector terminal strip in the cabinet. Splices between the loop conductor and the lead -in wire shall be soldered with fuseable metal or alloy. These splices shall first be joined and made mechanically s ecure and tested electrically. No spring connectors will be allowed for splicing. When the mechanical connection has been shown to be electrically functional under operational conditions, it shall then be soldered. Each splice shall then be insulated wi th a permanent, waterproof covering as specified or as approved by the Engineer. Waterproof adhesive shall be applied to the splice and on at least two
2.inches of loop wire and lead -in wire insulation on both sides of the splice. The splice shall then be covered with half -lapped, ¾ inch, self -bonding electrical tape; starting at the center of the splice and proceeding to ¾ inch onto the wire insulation, returning to the center of the splice. The entire splice shall then be wrapped with half -lapped, ¾ i nch, all -weather electrical tape using the same procedure as above. When both ends of the loop wire and lead -in wires are so spliced and wrapped, both splices shall then be wrapped together with ¾ inch, all -weather electrical tape. The 635 entire splice area to the end of the adhesive coating shall be covered. The splice shall then be completed by inserting a four (4) inch piece of all -weather electrical tape into the “V” formed by the loop wires. The loop slot cuts in the pavement shall be filled with a pe rmanent, flexible weatherproof sealant after the placement of the loop wire in the slots. The sealant shall be resistant to traffic, water, gasoline, chemical fumes, mild alkalies, oils and mild acids; no noticeable deterioration of the sealant shall be a pparent after exposures to temperatures ranging from minus 20°F to plus 160°F. Before sealing the loop, slots must be clean and dry and blown out with oil -free air. The sealant shall be placed to within 5/8 inch of the pavement surface and surplus sealan t shall be removed from the adjacent road surfaces without the use of solvents. The loop slot sealant shall be of “Weatherban 101 Sealer ” as manufactured by the 3 -M Company or an approved equal. The Contractor shall be responsible for replacement of dama ged loops and lead -in cable to the existing splice box or otherwise designated junction box. The Contractor shall be responsible for replacing all damaged traffic signal loops within the construction limits within fourteen (14) calendar days of when damag e occurs. Standard (6 foot x 6 foot) detector loops shall consist of three (3) turns of stranded #14 AWG copper wire, with Quadrupole presence loops consisting of two (2) turns of stranded #14 AWG copper wire meeting IMSA conductor specifications. All de tector loops shall conform to Specifications 715.42.2 and 715.42.13.
660.10 Signal Heads :
All signal heads shall be either plumb or level, symmetrically arranged, and securely assembled. All suspended heads sh all be provided with leveling hangers and balance adjusters. In addition, all signal head faces shall be aimed and secured in the direction of traffic they control. Signal heads suspended from messenger cable and mast -arm suspended heads that are not rigidly mounted shall be attached directly to the cable or mast -arm hanger and balance adjuster. If approved by the Engineer, one head per span or mast arm may be lowered to the proper height by use of 1½ inches galvanized steel piping connecting the signal head to the cable or mast -arm hanger. If piping is used, it must be painted to match the signal -head housing and a positive permanent means of securing the head to the pipe to prevent rotation shall be provided. In all cases, piping of signal heads shoul d be avoided if possible. All red sections of signal heads on a single span or mast arm shall be at the same elevation. Optically programmed signal heads shall have a permanent, rigid mount fitting to assure reliable control of visibility. Programmed heads shall be aimed, fixed and programmed to control vehicle or pedestrian traffic only in the cut -off area specified on the Plans and as directed by the Engineer. All type signal heads that are installed before a signal system is made operati ve shall be hooded with a black plastic material that will completely conceal the signal faces (even when lit) as well as cover the entire signal head. The material shall be weather resistant and fastened in such a way that it will be completely wind resi stant.
660.10.1 Light Emitting Diode Signal Modules (L.E.D.) :
1.When specified, L.E.D. traffic signal modules shall be used for replacement of either eight (8) or twelve (12) inch heads operating at 120 Vac. Total power consumption at each section shall not consume more than 22 watts.
2.L.E.D. traffic signal modules shall be designed for new or existing signal lamps which shall not require special tools for installation. Retro fit replacement L.E.D. signal
Source: West Virginia Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction, 2023 Edition. Pages 654–655 of 1,006.