What are these sprouting up on Highways?

gscraig · 07-12-2009, 11:24 AM

Hello All,

I was hoping someone may know what these are and/or what purpose they serve? Anyone else seeing these?

As of last month I started seeing these on the side of initially a minor traffic highway outside of Cincinnati, OH, but then noticed two more within two weeks on the same stretch of highway (that were not there before). Roughly two weeks after this, I noticed a panel on the side of a Viaduct, and then the larger panel (where the panel is constructed lower down the pole) on a major highway. Each of these are newly constructed. It is very possible these are common in other states, and are just now reaching Ohio (under the infrastructure stimulus).

I called the Ohio State Department of Transportation to understand what these were, but found myself transferred three times until I ended up in someone’s voicemail. I then left a message and number for a call back, but have yet to receive one. I then decided to email the photos to a friend whom is police officer, but have yet to hear from that person.

I've seen 6 in total, however, only one of them had the bigger panel constructed towards the bottom of the poles while the rest of them were at the top. Each panel per pole seems to be aligned to point in specific directions towards the sky. The pictures are not very clear, but they are navy blue in color and look like Solar Panels (odd for a highway) or perhaps satellite communication devices? The metal boxes on each looks like they may have enclosed a camera or the larger panel pole with the second box up top could be a sensor of some sort.

I had some issues uploading these, so I created a photo bucket account for you to take a gander. Therefore, I apologize in advance for the various advertisements along with the photos. I will try to post these a bit more clear.

http://s656.photobucket.com/albums/uu286/gscraig/

07-12-2009, 11:24 AM	#1
gscraig Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 335	What are these sprouting up on Highways? Hello All, I was hoping someone may know what these are and/or what purpose they serve? Anyone else seeing these? As of last month I started seeing these on the side of initially a minor traffic highway outside of Cincinnati, OH, but then noticed two more within two weeks on the same stretch of highway (that were not there before). Roughly two weeks after this, I noticed a panel on the side of a Viaduct, and then the larger panel (where the panel is constructed lower down the pole) on a major highway. Each of these are newly constructed. It is very possible these are common in other states, and are just now reaching Ohio (under the infrastructure stimulus). I called the Ohio State Department of Transportation to understand what these were, but found myself transferred three times until I ended up in someone’s voicemail. I then left a message and number for a call back, but have yet to receive one. I then decided to email the photos to a friend whom is police officer, but have yet to hear from that person. I've seen 6 in total, however, only one of them had the bigger panel constructed towards the bottom of the poles while the rest of them were at the top. Each panel per pole seems to be aligned to point in specific directions towards the sky. The pictures are not very clear, but they are navy blue in color and look like Solar Panels (odd for a highway) or perhaps satellite communication devices? The metal boxes on each looks like they may have enclosed a camera or the larger panel pole with the second box up top could be a sensor of some sort. I had some issues uploading these, so I created a photo bucket account for you to take a gander. Therefore, I apologize in advance for the various advertisements along with the photos. I will try to post these a bit more clear. http://s656.photobucket.com/albums/uu286/gscraig/