LED Highway Lighting
- 60-70% energy savings with 50,000+ hour fixture lifespan
- DLC Premium certified fixtures qualify for maximum utility rebates
- USA-based warranty support with 5-year minimum coverage guarantee
Get Your Custom Lighting Plan With Product Recommendations
- Professional Layout Designed for Highway Specifications, DOT Compliance & Traffic Safety Standards
- Precise Fixture Spacing, Pole Height & Light Distribution Calculations for Roadway Illumination
- Maximize Energy Savings & Reduce Municipal Maintenance Costs for Critical Infrastructure
Our LED Highway Lights include roadway luminaires, cobra head street lights, high mast lights, tunnel fixtures, linear fixtures, wall packs, canopy lights, flood lights, and temporary work-zone lighting. Available distribution patterns include Type II, Type III, Type IV, Type V, and roadway-specific optics. Many roadway fixtures are offered in 120-277V or 277-480V configurations, with availability varying by model. Product options may include photocells, dimming, scheduling, networked controls, and adaptive controls. Depending on the fixture, catalog attributes include wet-location and IP ratings, surge protection, corrosion-resistant housings, and vibration-resistant construction. Products carry UL, ETL, or CSA safety listings depending on the model, and many are DLC or DLC Premium listed.
Common applications for these fixtures include highways, freeways, roadways, ramps, exits, merge lanes, interchanges, overpasses, underpasses, tunnels, pedestrian crossings, and construction work zones. Street lights, roadway lights, and cobra head lights provide standard pole-mounted configurations, while high mast lights are used across multi-lane interchanges, ramps, and exits. Underpass installations may use wall-mounted, ceiling-mounted, linear, or canopy-style fixtures. Tunnel lighting configurations include tunnel-rated, linear, and ceiling-mounted fixtures. Flood lights, portable work lights, and temporary area lights are used for lane closures, staging areas, equipment zones, and nighttime highway construction.
LED Highway Lighting for Roadways, Interchanges, Ramps, Underpasses, and Tunnels
LED highway lighting is used on roadways, freeways, ramps, exits, merge lanes, interchanges, overpasses, underpasses, tunnels, pedestrian crossings, and construction work zones. These applications require controlled light distribution, proper fixture spacing, glare control, reliable outdoor performance, and fixture selection that fits the roadway layout and project requirements.
Highway lighting is different from general parking lot or building-mounted exterior lighting. Roadway fixtures must support driver visibility, lane recognition, merging decisions, pavement visibility, signs, curves, conflict points, and roadside awareness without creating excessive glare or light trespass. Final requirements may depend on roadway classification, speed, traffic volume, geometry, pavement type, pedestrian activity, local standards, utility requirements, and DOT specifications.
Selection and Installation Note: Product specifications, wattage, lumen output, optics, distribution pattern, color temperature, voltage, dimming, controls, mounting method, certifications, roadway suitability, environmental rating, surge protection, and warranty coverage vary by model. Confirm the selected product specification before ordering. For highway lighting, roadway lighting, tunnels, interchanges, ramps, overpasses, underpasses, construction zones, public infrastructure, utility-owned systems, or DOT-related projects, verify requirements with the project engineer, local inspector, transportation agency, utility provider, roadway-lighting designer, or a licensed electrical professional.
Recommended Foot-Candles for Highway and Roadway Lighting
Highway foot-candle levels vary by roadway type, traffic conditions, conflict points, pavement reflectance, fixture layout, pole spacing, mounting height, uniformity, glare limits, and project requirements. The ranges below are general planning values only. Final roadway lighting criteria should be confirmed against the applicable project standard, DOT requirement, local requirement, and photometric calculations when required.
Highway Lighting Applications and Fixture Types
Highway lighting projects may use cobra head street lights, roadway luminaires, high mast lights, wall packs, canopy lights, tunnel lights, linear fixtures, flood lights, or temporary work-zone fixtures, depending on the application. The best fixture type depends on the location, mounting height, distribution pattern, electrical service, access for maintenance, and project requirements.
| Application | Common Fixture Approach |
|---|---|
| Highways and freeways | LED street lights, roadway lights, and LED cobra head lights are commonly used for standard pole-mounted roadway lighting. |
| Interchanges, ramps, and exits | LED high mast lights, roadway lights, and cobra head lights may be used where multi-lane coverage, merging areas, and complex geometry require broader distribution. |
| Underpasses | LED wall packs, LED canopy lights, or linear fixtures may be used depending on the mounting surface, clearance, moisture exposure, and vandal exposure. |
| Tunnels | Tunnel-rated LED fixtures, linear fixtures, or ceiling-mounted fixtures may be required. Tunnel projects should be reviewed for entrance zones, interior zones, ventilation, corrosion, emergency requirements, and controls. |
| Highway construction zones | LED flood lights, portable work lights, and temporary area lights may be used for lane closures, staging areas, equipment zones, and nighttime work. |
| Pedestrian crossings and walkways | Street lights, area lights, or walkway fixtures may be used where pedestrian activity, transit stops, shared-use paths, or crossings are part of the roadway project. |
How to Choose LED Highway Lights
Highway lighting should be selected based on roadway conditions and project requirements, not wattage alone. Fixture wattage, lumen output, optic type, distribution pattern, mounting height, pole spacing, glare control, and uniformity all affect the final result.
| Selection Factor | What to Confirm |
|---|---|
| Roadway type | Confirm whether the project involves a highway, freeway, ramp, interchange, underpass, tunnel, overpass, pedestrian crossing, or work zone. Each application has different lighting needs. |
| Project requirements | Review local, utility, agency, DOT, or project-specific requirements before selecting fixtures. Public roadway projects often require formal engineering review. |
| Target light level | Use foot-candle ranges only as early planning guidance. Final levels may be based on luminance, illuminance, uniformity, glare, roadway classification, pavement type, and project criteria. |
| Distribution pattern | Type II, Type III, Type IV, Type V, or roadway-specific optics may be used depending on pole position, lane width, shoulder width, spacing, and desired light distribution. |
| Mounting height and pole spacing | Confirm existing pole height, arm length, pole spacing, setbacks, and mounting angle. Reusing existing poles may be possible, but spacing and light distribution still need review. For new installations, review appropriate street light poles and mounting requirements. |
| Glare control | Review driver viewing angles, ramps, curves, approaches, pedestrian areas, nearby properties, and opposing traffic. Excessive glare can reduce visibility even when measured light levels look adequate. |
| Uniformity | Uniformity is critical for roadway visibility. Uneven lighting can create bright and dark patches that make lane markings, pavement conditions, objects, and conflict points harder to see. |
| Voltage and electrical service | Confirm available voltage before ordering. Many roadway fixtures are available in 120-277V or 277-480V configurations, but compatibility varies by model. |
| Controls | Photocells, dimming, networked controls, scheduling, and adaptive controls may be useful depending on the project. Confirm driver compatibility, control protocol, agency requirements, and maintenance responsibilities. |
| Outdoor durability | Review wet-location rating, IP rating, corrosion exposure, vibration, wind, road salt, surge protection, operating temperature, and fixture housing construction. |
Highway Lighting vs. Street Lighting
Street lighting and highway lighting often uses similar fixture families, but they are not always designed the same way. Local streets may include lower speeds, driveways, sidewalks, storefronts, and pedestrians. Highway lighting often involves higher speeds, longer sight distances, wider lanes, ramps, exits, barriers, overpasses, and larger pole spacing.
For this reason, an LED street light that works well on a local roadway may not be the right fit for a freeway ramp, high-speed merge lane, tunnel approach, or interchange. Distribution pattern, mounting height, pole spacing, glare control, uniformity, and project standards should be reviewed before selecting fixtures.
Underpass and Tunnel Lighting Considerations
Underpasses and tunnels need special attention because daylight changes, shadows, enclosed spaces, moisture, exhaust, corrosion, clearance, and driver adaptation can affect visibility. Underpasses may use wall-mounted, ceiling-mounted, or canopy-style fixtures depending on the structure. Tunnel lighting may require more specialized review, including entrance and transition zones, emergency lighting, corrosion resistance, controls, and maintenance access. Projects involving overpasses or bridge structures may also require application-specific LED bridge lighting.
Do not choose tunnel or underpass lighting by wattage alone. Confirm the mounting location, fixture rating, distribution pattern, glare, visibility, electrical access, and project requirements before ordering.
Construction and Work-Zone Highway Lighting
Highway construction lighting may be temporary, portable, or semi-permanent depending on the project phase. Work-zone lighting should support worker visibility while avoiding glare toward drivers, equipment operators, flaggers, and nearby traffic. Mounting height, aiming, shielding, power source, portability, and work-zone layout should be reviewed before selecting flood lights or temporary area lights. Application-specific LED construction lighting options can support temporary work areas and nighttime operations.
For active roadway projects, confirm temporary lighting requirements with the project team, safety team, contractor, local inspector, or applicable transportation agency.
Benefits of LED Highway Lighting
- Improved visibility: Properly selected LED roadway fixtures can support nighttime visibility for lanes, shoulders, ramps, signs, pavement, and conflict points.
- More controlled light distribution: Roadway optics can help place light where it is needed and reduce wasted light outside the target area.
- Energy efficiency: LED fixtures can reduce energy use compared with older HID systems, with actual savings depending on wattage, operating hours, controls, utility rates, and existing fixture condition.
- Reduced maintenance: LED systems eliminate routine lamp and ballast replacement, which can reduce service calls and lane-closure-related maintenance when properly specified.
- Instant on operation: LEDs reach full output quickly without the warm-up time associated with some HID technologies.
- Controls compatibility: Some models support photocells, dimming, scheduling, networked controls, or adaptive strategies, depending on fixture and driver selection.
- Outdoor durability: Highway-grade fixtures may be available with wet-location ratings, IP ratings, corrosion-resistant housings, surge protection, and vibration-resistant construction, depending on model.
Highway Lighting Certifications, Rebates, and Warranty Support
LED highway lights from LED Lighting Supply carry a safety listing such as UL, ETL, or CSA, depending on product. Many models are DLC or DLC Premium listed for utility rebate support where available. Rebate requirements vary by utility, region, and product listing, so confirm eligibility on the selected product specification before ordering.
Most LED highway lights include a 5-year warranty unless otherwise specified, with USA-based warranty support. Before purchase, confirm certifications, DLC status, voltage, controls compatibility, mounting method, wet-location or environmental rating, surge protection, and whether the fixture is right for the roadway layout and surrounding conditions.
Common Highway Lighting Mistakes
- Choosing by wattage alone: Wattage does not confirm light distribution, foot-candles, luminance, uniformity, glare, or suitability for roadway use.
- Ignoring distribution pattern: The wrong optic can push light into the wrong lane, shoulder, property line, or sky instead of the roadway.
- Skipping project requirement review: Roadway projects may involve local, utility, agency, DOT, or engineering requirements that must be confirmed before ordering.
- Overlooking glare: More light does not always mean better visibility. Excessive glare can reduce visibility for drivers and pedestrians.
- Forgetting surge protection: Outdoor roadway fixtures are exposed to harsh electrical and weather conditions. Confirm surge protection and electrical requirements by model.
- Assuming existing poles are ideal: Existing pole height, arm length, spacing, and setbacks may not support the desired distribution or uniformity.
- Misapplying controls: Dimming, photocells, and networked systems should be compatible with fixture drivers and accepted by the project owner or agency.
- Using indoor-rated or light-duty fixtures: Highway and roadway applications require outdoor-rated fixtures suited for weather, vibration, mounting height, and maintenance access.
Contact us about LED highway lighting, and our Product Specialists can help review fixture type, distribution pattern, voltage, mounting height, controls, environmental rating, surge protection, and product specifications for your roadway application.
LED Highway Lighting FAQs
How Do I Choose The Right LED Highway Light Distribution?
Choose the distribution pattern based on pole position, lane and shoulder width, spacing, mounting height, and the desired roadway coverage. Type II, Type III, Type IV, Type V, and roadway-specific optics may be appropriate depending on the project layout.
Can Existing Highway Light Poles Be Reused For LED Fixtures?
Existing poles may be reusable, but their height, arm length, spacing, setbacks, and mounting angle must support the required distribution and uniformity. Reusing a pole does not by itself confirm that the new fixture will provide suitable roadway lighting.
What Determines LED Highway Lighting Fixture Quantity And Placement?
Fixture quantity and placement depend on roadway geometry, mounting height, pole spacing, light distribution, target light level, uniformity, glare limits, pavement conditions, and conflict points. Final layouts may need to be confirmed against project standards and photometric calculations.
Do LED Highway Lights Support Dimming And Photocells?
Some LED highway light models support photocells, dimming, scheduling, networked controls, or adaptive controls. Confirm driver compatibility, control protocol, agency requirements, and maintenance responsibilities for the selected fixture.
What Should Be Confirmed Before Ordering LED Highway Lights?
Confirm the selected fixture specifications, including voltage, optics, distribution pattern, mounting method, controls compatibility, environmental rating, surge protection, certifications, and warranty coverage. Roadway layout, project requirements, and applicable utility, agency, DOT, or engineering requirements should also be reviewed.