Introduction

Properly designed roadway lighting enables the driver to determine the geometry
and condition of the roadway at extended distances; promotes safety at night by enhancing
visibility so that drivers and pedestrians can comfortably make decisions; delineates the
roadway and its surroundings and alerts motorists to potential obstructions and other
hazards; assists the motorists in orienting themselves to the roadway’s geometry.
illuminates long underpasses and tunnels during the day to permit adequate visibility while
entering, traveling.
through, and exiting such corridors; discourages street crime at night or in other dark
situations; and enhances commercial and other activity zones to attract users.

2.1. Purpose of the Roadway Lighting Guidelines

Stated by Alfonso G. Cusi, the Department of Energy Secretary, “These guidelines

form part of the multifarious contributions of the DOE to the global movement of energy
efficiency and conservation. Through these, we are able to promote resource efficiency and
environment preservation, facilitate human mobility, safety and economic growth.

These guidelines are aimed at providing policies and strategies for designing,
operating, and maintaining road lighting for use by administrators, contractors,
designers, engineers, and others involved in similar activities, with the view of achieving
energy efficiency and savings while ensuring road visibility and safety. This outlines
technical requirements for the design of Roadway and Pedestrian Lighting and shared
paths, associated Electrical Design, Material and Lighting Software, and Documentation
requirements. All roadway and pathway lighting designs shall comply with the relevant
standards listed below, including all amendments thereto which are current at the date
of the design.

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AS Approval and test specifications- General requirements for
3100 electrical equipment (including all current
amendments)

AS Fibers-reinforced Pipes and Fittings (including all current amendments)

4139
AS Control of Obtrusive effects of outdoor lighting (including all current
4282 amendments)
AS Technical Drawing-General Principles (Including all current
1100.1 amendments)
01
AS Technical Drawing-Engineering survey and Engineering survey design
1100.4 drawing (Including all current amendments)
01
AS/NZS Lighting for Roads and public spaces – Introduction (including
1158.0 all current amendments)
AS/NZS Lighting for Roads and public spaces – Vehicular traffic (Category V)
1158.1. lighting – Performance & installation design requirements (including all
1 up-to-date amendments)
AS/NZS Road Lighting – Vehicular traffic (Category V) lighting – Guide to
1158.1. design, installation, operation, and maintenance (including all
2 current amendments)
AS/NZS Lighting for Roads and public spaces – Computer procedures for the
1158.2 calculation of light technical parameters for Category V Lighting and
Category P Lighting (including all current amendments)
AS/NZS Lighting for Roads and public spaces – Pedestrian area (Category P)
1158.3. lighting – Performance and installation design requirements (including
1 all current amendments)
AS/NZS Lighting for Roads and public spaces – Pedestrian area (Category
1158.4 P) lighting- Performance and design
requirements
AS/NZS Lighting for roads and public spaces – Tunnels and underpasses
1158.5 (including all current amendments)
AS/NZS Lighting for roads and public spaces – Luminaires (including
1158.6 all current amendments)
AS/NZS Specification & supply of concrete (including all current amendments)
1379
AS/NZS Interior Lighting-General Principles and Recommendations (including
1680.1 all current amendments)
AS/NZS Certification of Welders and Welding Supervisors (including
1796 all current amendments)
AS/NZS Lighting poles and Brackets Arms – Preferred dimensions (including all
1798 current amendments)

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 AS/NZS International electro technical vocabulary – Lighting (including all
1852.845 current amendments)
AS/NZS 1906 Retro reflective Materials and Devices for Road Traffic Control Purposes
– Series (including all current amendments)
AS/NZS Non-metallic Conduits and Fittings (including all current amendments)
2053
AS/NZS Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules (including all current
3000 amendments)
AS/NZS Steel Utility Services Poles (including all current amendments)
4677
AS/NZS Hot dip galvanized (zinc) coatings on ferrous articles (including all
4680 current amendments)
AS/NZS Luminaires (including all current amendments)
60598 –
Series
AS/NZS Single-capped Fluorescent Lamp – Performance Specifications
60901 – (including all current amendments)
2003
IEC 60662 High Pressure Sodium Vapour Lamps
Ed.2.0
IEC 60529 Degrees of Protection Provided by Enclosures (IP code)
Ed.2.
AS/NZS Auxiliaries for lamps – Ballasts for discharge lamps - General and
60922 safety requirements (including all current
amendments)
AS/NZS Auxiliaries for lamps – Ballasts for discharge lamps - Performance
60923 requirements (including all current
amendments)
AS/NZS Auxiliaries for Lamp – Capacitors for use in tubular fluorescent and other
61048 – discharge circuits – Safety Req. (including all current
2002 amendments)
AS/NZS Auxiliaries for lamps – Capacitors for use in tubular fluorescent and
61049 other discharge circuits – Performance Req. (including all
current amendments)
AS/NZS Quality Systems as applicable.
9000-Series
AS/NZS Limits and methods of measurements of radio disturbance
CISPR 15 characteristics of electrical lighting and similar equipment.
(Including all current amendments)
Table 1

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For policy statement, application, approval, and administration guidelines:
1. Road Lighting – Part A – Policy Statement
2. Road Lighting – Part B – Application & Approval Guidelines
3. Road Lighting – Part D – Administration Guidelines
4. Solar Powered LED Lighting Policy

Part A: Policy Statement

Main Roads will provide lighting on State Roads in accordance with the following
criteria.

FREEWAYS. High vehicle volume freeways shall be lit, and the lighting is the
responsibility of Main Roads. All interchanges shall be lit, and the lighting is the
responsibility of Main Roads.

HIGHWAYS AND MAIN ROADS WITH DECLARED CONTROL OF ACCESS. High vehicle
volume roads shall be lit, and the lighting is the responsibility of Main Roads. All
intersections within a road section that is dual carriageway shall be lit and the lighting is
the responsibility of Main Roads.

HIGHWAYS AND MAIN ROADS WITHOUT DECLARED CONTROL OF ACCESS. Within built-up
areas, lighting of the road is the responsibility of the Local Government Authority. Main
Roads will subsidize the cost of the lighting if it meets Main Roads requirements. Outside of
built-up areas, flag lighting is the responsibility of Local Government Authorities and other
road lighting is the responsibility of Main Roads.

MAIN ROADS FACILITIES ON LOCAL ROADS. Main Roads facilities on Local roads for which
lighting is appropriate shall be lit in accordance with the Main Roads – Road Lighting
Technical Guidelines. The provision, maintenance, and payment of power consumption of
the lighting are the responsibility of the Local Government Authority.

FUNDING. Funding for lighting projects is dependent upon their priority against all other

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road projects and the amount of funds available for road projects.
Part B: Application & Approval Guidelines
The purpose of this Guideline is to detail how Main Roads will fulfill its policy for road
lighting on State roads, specific facilities and Main Roads roadworks projects including the
impact on Local roads.

Part D: Administration Guidelines

This guideline consists of benefits of road lighting, typical main road surface type,
assert management, subsidies, project managers to inform regions, and frequently asked
questions such as ‘What are the features of Main Roads’ standard road light poles?’ and
‘Why doesn’t Main Roads provide road lighting along all roads its roads?’

Solar Powered LED Lighting Policy

This policy provides guidance on the provision of Solar Powered Lighting at remote
and isolated intersection locations where the power supply is not economical to provide. It
is a requirement of Main Roads to supply and install solar powered lighting in accordance
with this Policy. The designer shall record all changes and departures from Main Roads
standards and practices for lighting design. The designer is required to detail the specifics of
products and equipment selected for each location.

2.2. Purpose of the Roadway Lighting

Traffic Engineering Objectives:

• Promotion of safety at night by providing quick, accurate, and comfortable

seeing for drivers and pedestrians.
• Improvement of traffic flow at night by providing light, beyond that provided by
vehicle lights, which aids drivers in orienting themselves, delineating roadway
geometries and obstructions, and judging opportunities for overtaking.

• Illumination in long underpasses and tunnels during the day to permit drivers
entering such structures from the open to have adequate visibility for safe
vehicle operation.

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Other Objectives:

• Reduction of street crimes after dark. From the traffic engineer's perspective, this
ancillary benefit could attract non-traditional funding sources.
• Enhancement of commercial (especially retail sales) properties by
attracting evening shoppers, audiences, and other users.

2.3. Scope and Methodology

Scope
These guidelines cover lighting systems used to illuminate expressways, major roads,
collector roads,
minor roads and rural highways, classified as follows:
a. Expressways. These are roads reserved for motor traffic which are accessible only
from interchanges and with no crossings at grade.
b. Major Roads. These are roads which are part of roadway system that serves as the
principal network for through traffic flows. The routes connect areas of principal traffic
generation from different cities or municipalities.

c. Collector Road. These are distribution and collector roadways servicing traffic between
major and minor roadways. They are used mainly for traffic movements within residential,
commercial, and industrial center in the urban areas.
d. Minor Roads. These roads include subdivision roads and local roadways that are used
primarily as an access road to residential areas, commercial buildings, and industrial plants
and where there is minimal through traffic most of the time.
e. Rural Highways. These are provincial roads which serve as the principal network for
through traffic in the rural areas.

These guidelines do not cover special categories such as landscape lighting (structure,
hardscape and softscape), plaza and park lighting, outdoor lighting (sports, retail, etc.)
and specialty area lighting. All new national, local or barangay road lighting shall be
constructed in accordance with these guidelines. All roadway lighting being modified,

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 extended, expanded, or added to the existing roadway installations shall conform to these
guidelines.

Methodology
Design Tools and methods identified under Australian Standards AS/NZS 1158.1.1
and AS/NZS1158.3.1 and Main Roads specific requirements shall be applied.

Category V Lighting – Design Methods

Item Road Element Design Category AS/NZS Reference

1 Straight Section Luminance-based Computer Clause 3.2 of AS/NZS

Calculation and Illuminance- 1158.1.1
based Computer Calculation
where applicable

2 Curved Sections Curved Spacing Chart Clause 3.3 of AS/NZS

Luminance-based Computer 1158.1.1
Calculations

3 Intersections, Luminance-based Computer Clause 3.4 of AS/NZS

Junctions, and Calculations, where applicable 1158.1.1
other Specified and Illuminance-based
Locations Computer Calculation

4 Isolated Design Rules and Illuminance Clause 3.5 of AS/NZS

Intersections based computer calculation 1158.1.1

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2.4. Roadway Lighting Equipment
Lighting equipment component understanding, and proper selection is crucial to the
overall success of the roadway lighting design project. The items covered include lamps,
luminaires, ballasts, service cabinets, poles, light bases (foundations), equipment pads, and
selection of the lighting equipment.

Lamps

It is the principal determinant of the visual quality, economy, efficiency, and energy
conservation aspects of the illumination system. Three general types of lamps are
presently in use for roadway lighting: incandescent, fluorescent, and high intensity
discharge (HID).
➢ Roadway Lighting Lamp Characteristics

General characteristics for roadway lamps:

Note: These values exclude wattage losses due to ballast. Number of hours for a group
of lamps at which 50 percent will remain in operation; based on 10 hours of operation
per start.

Clear mercury lamps produce a greenish light due to mercury's combination of

spectral lines. This is not flattering to human skin color, so such lamps are typically
not used in retail stores.

The metal halide lamp is a type of mercury lamp in which the arc tube contains, in
addition to mercury, certain iodide compounds that improve both the efficacy and the
color rendition without the use of a phosphor-coated bulb. The light source size is that

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of the arc tube, permitting good light control in the same fixture used for clear mercury
lamps and excellent color rendition, however lamp life is low.

The high-pressure sodium (HPS) lamp has replaced the mercury lamp. It is characterized by
a golden-white color light output. HPS lamps are normally operated with special ballasts that
provide the necessary high voltage to start the lamp.

The low-pressure sodium (LPS) lamp is characterized by a monochromatic bright yellow

color light output. This lamp requires special ballasts and increases materially in size as
the wattage increases.
The poor color rendition and large size of the LPS lamp have made it unpopular for use in
other than industrial or security applications.

Different types of lamps and luminaires have different advantages and disadvantages
which make them more suitable or less suitable for a particular use. The HPS lamp is very
efficient and is the best for most roadway lighting. The lamp requires a ballast and special
device to produce a very high voltage surge for starting. The HPS lamp usually cycles on and
off at the end of normal life. The fluorescent lamp is no longer installed on new systems but
is still in operation on some existing sign lighting systems. The fluorescent lamp has shown a
poor maintenance history and is adversely affected by cold weather. The LPS lamp is a very
efficient light source in that it provides the lightest for the same amount of electricity of any
of the light sources described. LPS lighting has proven to have maintenance problems
requiring frequent lamp replacement. The LPS lamp provides very poor color rendition. The
lamps are very long, altering the light distribution pattern from the luminaires.

The efficiency of a lamp in converting electrical energy to light, the ability of the
lamp to maintain its light output over the course of the lamp life, the length of the lamp
life, the color of the light, and the distribution of the light are all factors which affect the
cost and effectiveness of installing, operating, and maintaining the lights, and, hence,
affect the choice of light source.

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Luminaires
A luminaire is defined as a complete unit consisting of a lamp, together with the
parts designed to distribute the light, to position and protect the lamp, and to connect the
lamp to the power supply. Components that make up a luminaire include reflector,
refractor, and the housing. Luminaires for roadway lighting should normally be the shallow
glass "cobra head" style, “vertical” head style, or “high mast” style. However, in certain
circumstances "shoebox" style and "circular" style luminaires are being used. Shoebox
style luminaires are often appropriate for the interior lights in rest areas. Where a
municipality is maintaining the lights, other decorative luminaires may be used.

Ballasts
A ballast is required for all HID and fluorescent lamps. A ballast generally serves
three functions. First it provides the proper open circuit voltage to start the lamp. The
second function is to keep the lamp operating within its design parameters. The third
function of the ballast is to adapt the lamp to any one of the line voltages commonly
available.

Ballasts characteristics:

Ballasts for high pressure sodium lamps are located in the luminaire, the only exception
would be pedestrian lighting where ballasts can be installed in the 10-foot pole.

Service Cabinets
The electrical service point (feed point) consists of a lighting service cabinet
complete with circuit breakers and photoelectric control where applicable, a concrete
foundation or wood pole for mounting, electrical connections to the power company
service conductors, provisions for grounding, and a meter and meter socket when
necessary.

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Poles
The designer must determine the pole height, type and length of mast arm(s),
material and finish, and method of mounting. Whenever possible, these choices should
conform to standard products offered by manufacturers.
Pole height affects the illumination intensity, uniformity of brightness, area covered, and
relative glare of the unit. Higher mounted units provide greater coverage, more uniformity,
and a reduction of glare, but a lower footcandle level. By using higher poles, fewer poles are
required, and they can be set back farther from the traveled roadway. Typical pole heights
are 30 feet, 40 feet, and 49 feet.

Examples of Pole designations:

1. 9-40: 9' mast arm with 40' mounting height, transformer base or high base, and
aluminum or stainless steel, as indicated in the plans.
2. 6BD-40: 6’ double mast arms with 40' mounting height, provisions for barrier mounting.
3. VMD-45: Tenon mount double vertical luminaire with 45' mounting height.

Equipment Pads
A concrete equipment pads includes conduit and anchorage hardware within the
concrete foundation, reinforcement bars if using the precast option, all wiring and hardware
necessary, and all grounding bonding materials as indicated in the details in the plan.

Selection of the Lighting Equipment

• Cobra Head Lighting Systems
The most common equipment used is the 40-foot (12 m) pole with a 250-watt HPS
luminaire (cobra head style), davit type mast arms are 9 foot (3 m) on ramps and loops
and 12 foot (4 m) on the through roadway. Spacing of the 40-foot (12 m) poles are
usually 240-250 feet (73-75 m) depending on the desired footcandle level and the
number of lanes.

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 • Vertical Mount Lighting Systems
When adequate clearance and slopes are available, vertical mount lighting units may be
utilized. The vertical mount poles are typically 45-foot (13.7 m) poles with single or double
tenon mounted with a 250-watt HPS luminaire. 49-foot (15 m) poles may also be utilized
with a 400-watt HPS luminaire. Vertical mounted poles can be used on median barrier and
bridges.

• High Mast Lighting

High mast lighting is used principally where continuous lighting is desirable such as
interchange lighting, lighting of toll plazas, rest areas and parking areas, general area
lighting, and for continuous lighting on highways having wide cross sections and a large
number of traffic lanes. High mast lighting is also desirable where there is minimal
residential and where maintenance of conventional lighting units may be a hazard to the
traveling public and the maintenance personnel.

• Shoebox or Round Lighting Options

There are cases where a more decorative lighting system is desired. The shoebox or round
luminaire style of lighting should only be used on two-lane roadways. The poles should be
35-40 feet with 6-foot inclined beam mast arm and 250-watt HPS luminaires. The spacing of
these poles must be calculated for each installation.

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References

2018. TDOT Traffic Design Manual Chapter 15 p.1

2003. Roadway Lighting Design Manual.

2013. Street & Roadway Lighting. ZGSM. https://www.zgsm-china.com/led-lighting-

applications/street-roadway-lighting

Importance of roadway lighting testing in the marketplace. UL.

https://www.ul.com/services/roadway-lighting

2017. Department of Energy Roadway Lighting Guidelines.

Lighting Design Guideline for Roadway and Public Spaces. Main Roads.
https://www.mainroads.wa.gov.au/technical-commercial/technical-library/road-traffic-
engineering/roadside-items/lighting-design-guideline/

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