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The Museum
of Road Signs and Signals
and street lighting
Illuminated bollards
Definition:
Illuminated signage is made up of all the luminous devices whose purpose is to regulate road traffic.
At MuSé, this department is based around these themes:
Illuminated bollards
Illuminated bollards
-Definition:
A bollard is a device used to delimit an area. It is a functional piece of equipment for visually delimiting a particular area. It is also known as a "light bollard".
-General information:
After the Second World War, Belgium opted for the widespread use of illuminated bollards. Towards the end of the 60s and beginning of the 70s, these bollards had a fairly characteristic shape (cone):
Based on observations made in 2023 on rare examples still in place, these bollards were made up of two joined parts, which explains the presence of the vertical black line. The most common colour was yellow, but there were very rare white markers. It is likely that they were made of fibreglass and polyester resin, as shown in the example below, photographed in Chênée in January 2024:
The junction formed by the RN 30, RN 61 and RN 601 at Chênée is equipped with twelve illuminated bollards. This equipment probably dates back to 1982, when the area was redeveloped with the E25 (formerly E9) motorway nearby. While the light source has been modernised (as we shall see later), the bollard itself is period (two were still in place in January 2024).
The advantage of this material is its colour, which is visible during the day, and its shape, which is hard for road users to ignore. These bollards are still in place, which could be due to their effectiveness both day and night.
-Functions:
The illuminated bollards have two functions:
Signalling a central island. This photo was taken in Ougrée in January 2024. For the record, the D signal (arrow) dates back to 1979 and is fitted with two 18-watt fluorescent tubes. The bollard is illuminated by an LED spotlight.
Illuminated bollards are also used for lane separation. This photo was taken in Angleur (Google maps). The roadway is divided into three lanes marked by two bollards.
-History and light sources:
The history of these bollards and the evolution of light sources are linked. Let's take a look at some examples of these bollards over the years:
In Liège, at the former Guillemins railway station, this bollard was illuminated. It was made of metal (cast iron?). It was the upper part that was lit, orange in colour. In my memory, it didn't flicker. It was probably fitted with a filament lamp.
1971, we're in the Hocheporte district of Liège, before the road changes we're seeing today. Look closely and you can see two "cone" bollards. The early 70s is probably the time of the arrival of this equipment, equipped with fluorescent tubes.
-Fluorescent tubes:
A fine invention after the Second World War, fluorescent tubes have been improved over the years, giving them increasingly attractive performance in terms of luminosity and lifespan. The 30-watt fluorescent tube equipped all the 'cone' terminals until the mid-90s. In February 2024, MuSé rediscovered a bollard still fitted with these tubes. It was at Dolemnbreux, at the exit of the E25 motorway, that this bollard had been in operation since 1977, the year it was installed.
This bollard is made up of two parts. It is probably made of fibreglass and polyester resin. Over time, this material proves a little fragile, as does the two-part design. The yellow colour has held up well over the 47 years it has been present on this island.
This bollard is equipped with two 30-watt vertical fluorescent tubes. The fittings are located at the foot of the bollard. They are particularly exposed to humidity, which causes them to deteriorate easily:
Despite its respectable age, this bollard still lights up at dusk. The year is February 2024.
It is undeniable that this equipment clearly enables it to fulfil its safety missions. Nevertheless, the fluorescent equipment posed a problem when it came to maintenance... In the event of an accident, the cost of replacing the electrical equipment was said to be quite high. Once it was jammed, not only was the bollard destroyed, but also the entire electrical system.
This photo was taken by Aclimex Liège, specialists in illuminated bollards. It was taken in Hocheporte, Liège. It shows a damaged cone, but also an entire lighting system out of order. The repair involved replacing the entire system (except for the concrete base).
-Finding a solution:
The number of illuminated bollards on our roads is impressive. But they all have their uses for road users. Doing without them is unthinkable. So we had to think about the vulnerability of the whole system and look for alternatives to fluorescent tubes that would be less expensive to maintain and repair.
Towards the end of the 80s, some strange cones appeared over the city of Liège... On closer inspection, it was obvious that they no longer contained fluorescent tubes. And with good reason: the base of the bollard contained high-pressure sodium spotlights. The advantage: in the event of an accident, only the cone was replaced, leaving the light source intact.
In the 1990s, with the advent of metal halides, the light sources were adapted. The principle of the spotlight at the base of the bollard was adopted.
While thought was already being given to easier maintenance and lower costs, energy consumption was not yet an issue. Metal halide lamps still consumed 55 watts (compared with 60 watts for fluorescent tubes). If the lamp failed, the whole bollard went out (one fluorescent tube failed, the bollard still worked with the other tube).
With the introduction of LEDs in the early 2000s, the whole policy on light sources was overhauled. LEDs replaced all light sources: incandescent, fluorescent, halide, induction and sodium lamps. It was therefore logical that LEDs should also be used for bollards.
This bollard photographed at Dolembreux was originally lit by two fluorescent tubes. A switch to LEDs has now been made. The cone is much brighter than the fluorescent tubes.
At the same crossroads, another bollard was damaged. While the cone has disappeared, the light source (LED) has remained completely intact. Only the cone needs to be replaced. The LED luminaire comprises 12 light sources consuming 22 watts.
Bollard manufacturers carry out a great deal of research into ergonomics, water resistance, ease of maintenance, conversion of old systems, aesthetics, etc. The modules on offer (LEDs) are resistant to water and road salt. Innovations have even been developed to prevent electrocution of road users in the event of an accident.
-Other illuminated bollards :
Dome-shaped illuminated bollards at the Zenobe-Gramme monument in Angleur. These bollards were replaced by "cone" bollards (LEDs) when the intersection's traffic lights were modernised in 2018.
"Mine" bollard lights found in Chaudfontaine (February 2024). They were installed during major road redevelopment works (1990s?). The light source could be a compact fluorescent lamp.
Dome-shaped bollard discovered on the N61 at Trooz. This bollard was probably installed in 2009 when the road was resurfaced. It consists of a multitude of yellow LEDs on its surface. It has been switched off since the floods of July 2021 (the photo was taken in February 2024).
The arrival of the spotlight at the base of the bollard and the use of metal halides (mid 90s). Like this bollard topped with a traffic sign. It was one of the first to be manufactured (in Verviers for the one shown here). The purpose of this bollard is not specified, but the location of the sign is virge.
Cones topped by a traffic sign. With this system, the road manager saves on the cost of a complete backlit sign (2 x 18 watt consumption). Thanks to an internal reflector system, the light emitted by the spotlight at the base of the bollard is reflected towards the face of the sign. The face is made from a transparent retroreflective film, which means that it can still be seen in headlights if the projector fails.
The signal above was saved during the roadworks at the start of the E313 at Vottem. The second exists at the Zénobe Gramme hopper (N90) in Angleur.
In December 2024, Le MuSé managed to rescue this Schréder illuminated bollard, also known as Méta. According to our information, it came from the port of Antwerp or Ghent. It consists of a concrete base containing an aluminium casing protecting the auxiliary unit that enables the 35-watt metal halide (discharge) lamp to operate.) The whole unit is protected by glass.
-An illuminated bollard over time:
We are on the N4 at Nassogne. Here are some photos, taken from Google Maps, of a set of combined signals.
In 2009, this lane separation is indicated by an attractive backlit D1d sign (3 x 18 watts, fluorescent tubes), two ATEA traffic lights (300 mm lenses, two 100 watt filament bulbs) and a bollard light (probably 70 watt metal halide).
In 2018, the signal doesn't seem to have changed much. However, the two signal lights have been replaced by LED lanterns.
In 2020, perhaps as a result of an accident, the set has changed fundamentally: the LED light signals are still there. The backlit D1d arrow has disappeared and been replaced by an illuminated "cone" bollard topped by a signal. This bollard may be illuminated by LEDs. Note that the signal mast has also been replaced.
2021, new replacement of the whole... This time, the illuminated bollard is topped by a small-format D1d signal.
2023, another probable accident, everything's gone!
The close-up view of the base of the bollard does not allow us to identify the light source. The light source is an 18-watt LED spotlight.
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