1D-14: Lighting Submittal

The need for modifications to existing lighting or new lighting should be identified early in the project development process.

The Office of Traffic & Safety (T&S) is responsible for determining where lighting is warranted, and for the development of plan sheets covering these details. It is important to understand that the Iowa Licensing Board does not permit a licensed Civil Engineer to seal electrical details pertaining to lighting projects. The Office of Traffic and Safety has the use of a statewide consultant which will provide the sealed plan sheets.

Some basic knowledge of when lighting is installed is useful. Know that lighting is not always installed because warrants are met. Meeting warrants makes an intersection eligible for lighting, but other factors such as safety, priorities, and funding often determine if the intersection will have lighting installed. Specific information related to this can be found in the T&S Manual.

Assessing Lighting Needs

Projects that affect or need lighting originate in many areas of the DOT (i.e. Location, Design, Districts, Traffic & Safety, etc). It is incumbent upon the lead design group to identify projects that may need lighting, and to enlist the aid of T&S. The following guidance can help identify projects where T&S should be included.

Projects on new or relocated alignments

1. T&S will need to review them in their entirety. They will assess all corridors and intersections for lighting needs.

Projects on existing roadways

1. If there is existing lighting, involve T&S. Even if no impacts are apparent, there may be other needs that require the lighting to be updated. Projects such as resurfacing change the height of the roadway, and often modify the side slopes near the roadway. These changes can bury light pole bases, and negate the safety benefit of yielding bases. (If you need to, think of how we manage guardrail end terminals and frequently upgrade them within projects. Light poles are also roadway safety hardware.) Often times existing lighting may be owned and maintained by another jurisdiction. T&S will determine the owner and determine what course of action to take.
2. If there is no existing lighting, but the project involves a ramp terminal intersection or a primary road to primary road intersection, involve T&S. At a minimum, they will review the location for lighting needs, and possibly add lighting to the intersection.

Packaging and Scheduling

Once it has been established that lighting is part of a project, work with T&S to determine how that work will be incorporated into the project.

Minor lighting work will most likely be included in the design plans. If so, add the event dates associated with this work to the development schedule to avoid issues near project turn-in. Also be sure to update your cost estimate to include provisions for this new type of work.

Significant projects will most likely be scheduled as a separate project. If this is the case, work again with T&S, and include the District staff. Determine if the design and lighting projects need to maintain the same construction schedule, and whether or not they need to be completed under a single contract (tied projects). If both project types need to maintain the same schedule (tied or not), ensure that any schedule changes are communicated to T&S. If the projects are to be tied, make sure this is noted in the development schedule.

Chronology of Changes