The TMC Team at Caltrans District 03, have successfully deployed numerous camera lowering devices (CLDs) from MG Squared (MG2).
According to Caltrans, the motivation behind their implementation of the MG2 lowering devices includes:
- Ground level camera maintenance enhances the safety to both technicians and road users by eliminating the need of lane/shoulder closures and a boom truck for access.
- Pole heights can be extended well beyond the 40ft height access of a typical bucket truck, enhancing situational awareness without compromising maintainability.
- In contrast to other Caltrans locations utilizing a traditional high mast (Halo) light fixture device to lower cameras for access, the MG2 CLD allows ancillary devices to be mounted to the camera pole beneath camera providing more ITS functionality of the pole.
All considered, the maintenance and operations team prefers the MG2 CLD due to the simplicity and accessibility.
A few notable locations within Caltrans District 3 reaping the above referenced benefits of the MG2 CLD include: I-5/Metro Air Parkway Interchange Improvement, Route 50, Route 80, and Route 99.
While these particular installations have been on 50ft and 60ft poles, Caltrans has future plans for a custom pole up to 90ft with the potential to allow as many as three CLDs per pole which can be very helpful when using microwave to daisy chain communications with the camera.
According to MG2 Vice President, “Caltrans has some remarkable – forward thinking and innovative transportation engineers – that without such, none of this would be happening. Local distributor, JAM Services, has provided excellent support to both Caltrans and contractors.”
Kelly Momaney, JAM Services Sales Manager stated, “We have enjoyed partnering with MG2 on several projects in Caltrans District 03. As a family owned business ourselves, we appreciate the hands on and thorough support we have received, including the ingenuity of the MG2 staff to meet the specific custom needs for various applications. Their willingness to adjust their standard products to accommodate the Caltrans’ specific requests is something you do not see with some larger manufacturers. Observing the product in person and operating in the field it is clear that the MG2 CLD is of excellent quality built on decades of field experience.”
