Chapter 14 - Lighting

14.1. General Considerations

14.1.1. Roadway Lighting Warrants

It is best that lighting requirements be coordinated at the concept stage.  All lighting requirements for existing or proposed systems shall be coordinated with the Roadway Lighting Group of the GDOT Office of Road and Airport Design.

Lighting should be considered for all Interstate projects (roadway and/or interchange), especially in urban areas, and be included in any interstate and or interchange upgrade project, assuming the local government will agree to the energy and maintenance costs for the newly installed system.

If while reconstructing existing roadways and/or adding lanes the proposed construction work does not conflict with existing roadway lighting structures, the new lane configuration still requires that the photometrics be evaluated based on current AASHTO and IESNA requirements.  The majority will require a new lighting system to be provided.  In addition, the lifespan of the major lighting system components (towers, poles, luminaires etc.) is typically 20 to 25 years.  Retaining components longer can greatly increase the maintenance requirements of the lighting system. 

If an existing roadway lighting system is present and requires relocation, upgrade or replacement, then the required work for the lighting system will be included in the GDOT roadway project.  The responsible Local Government shall continue to pay for Energy, Maintenance and Operations of the system.  GDOT shall retain the ownership of the system.

If no existing roadway lighting system is present AND the site does not meet the AASHTO warranting conditions for roadway lighting, THEN a written request for lighting must come from the Local Government for the inclusion of roadway lighting to be included in a programmed GDOT project to be considered.

GDOT will include lighting with roadway projects or assist in the funding of lighting projects if requested by the local government and the local government will agree to the long term energy, maintenance and operations costs.