Gantry (transport)
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A gantry (also known as a sign holder, road sign holder, sign structure or road sign structure) is a traffic sign assembly in which signs are mounted or railway signals are supported on an overhead support. They also often contain the apparatus for traffic monitoring systems and cameras, or open road tolling systems.
Gantries are usually built on high-traffic roads or routes with several lanes, where signs posted on the side of the highway would be hard for drivers to see. Gantries may be cantilevered or one-sided on the left, right and center (sometimes referred to as a half-gantry or Butterfly gantry), or they may be bridges with poles on each side. Similar gantries are used in
Around the world
Canada
Gantry signs are commonly used in urban highways in Canada to support overhead signs. Half-gantries are used to place signs near exits where space does not permit having signs to the right side of the roadway. Gantries can also be used to hold cameras for toll road entrances/exits and to hold electronic information signs, such as on Ontario Highway 407. The style of gantry used are mostly truss gantries. Older gantries have truss supports (round or box) and newer ones are now supported by cylindrical legs. In most jurisdictions in Canada, signs that are mounted on overhead gantries are installed perpendicular to the roadway. In Québec, however, signs are angled slightly face-down towards the roadway such that the sign face is directed towards the motorists below. In New Brunswick, the opposite is true: signs are angled slightly face-up to capture and reflect more sunlight towards the roadway.
The colors of the gantry sign may indicate different things in Canada. Generally, the signs are green (similar to the United States) however different colored signs may exist for certain purposes. For example, the Ontario 400 series highway will use green for the inner Express lanes while using dark blue for the outer collector lanes. Another reason for blue signs would be Express Toll Routes (Highway 407 Toll Route utilizes some blue signs at entrances). Finally, overhead blue signs may be used near airports (such as the roads going into Toronto Pearson Airport or Vancouver International Airport).
Hong Kong
Hong Kong's highways use a gantry crane type to support signs. The road signs are usually located on top and some have lights to indicate open or closed lanes.
United Kingdom
Gantry signs are being installed at various locations around the trunk
United States
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0d/I-680_south_at_SR_4.jpg/220px-I-680_south_at_SR_4.jpg)
Gantry signs are used frequently in the U.S., particularly in urban areas where
Designs
- W, M and N's (lattice designs)
- Pedestal - for free and toll roads
- Tubular pipes
Gallery of road gantries
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View toward Iparos Street Interchange (Exit 18) from Szövő Street Road Bridge over M7 motorway in Parkváros neighborhood, Érd, Pest County, Hungary
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Terminal East gantry sign at Denver International Airport (DIA) with an empty freeway during the pandemic.
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AtColorado Springs
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Electronic toll collection verification of road tax payment by trucks on German controlled-access highways
Railway use
On railways, gantries span multiple
Gallery of railway gantries
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A gantry of British semaphore signals seen from the cab of a steam locomotive
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Gantry with old and newGrivita railway station, Bucharest.
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Signal gantry inGlasgow Central Station
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Overhead line gantry in Denmark
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Railway overhead line electification gantry Church Road Tottenham London England
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Gantry at Gare Saint-Lazare
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Gantry of Sri Lanka semaphore signals
See also
- Anchor portal
- At-grade intersection
- Controlled-access highway
- Gantry
- Interchange
- Limited-access road
- Railroad signal bridge
- Railway semaphore signal
- Toll road
- Traction current pylon
- Traffic sign
- Utility pole
- Variable-message sign
References
- ^ https://safety.networkrail.co.uk/jargon-buster/signal gantry/#:~:text=signal%20gantry%20A%20framework%20suspended%20across%20several%20train,and%20upon%20which%20many%20signals%20may%20be%20mounted
External links
Media related to Gantry (road sign) at Wikimedia Commons