168A. A42 Diseworth, Leicestershire Still extant on the section of the A42 near its interchange with the M1 Motorway at Junction 23A in 2024 are a number of 10 metre double-arm tubular steel lighting columns installed in the central reservation that support 135 Watt SOX (low pressure sodium) lanterns, with the bridge over the bypass at Green Lane being the point at which the Thorn Alpha 4s change to Philips MA 50s, on brackets of slightly different design. These installations are likely to date from around the mid-1990s, making them some of the newer Survivors to be documented; however, they were on borrowed time when photographed in June 2024, with National Highways issuing a notification that much of the lighting infrastructure in this area was to be replaced by the end of that year.

The Alpha 4s are on the section north of the bridge, and continue to the slip roads in the distance, where columns supporting more MA 50s take over.

These double brackets have outreaches that are roughly as long as the lanterns are.

The Alpha 4s employ the more unusual narrow profile bowls, for cut-off lighting - this may have been a requirement, owing to the proximity of East Midlands Airport. The GRP canopies of these lanterns look heavily weathered, and any black paint applied to the aluminium rear sections when new has long since worn away.

Turning to the other side of the bridge, the MA 50s are seen. The proximity of a gantry over the eastbound carriageway obscures the 'open' view captured with the Alpha 4s.

The brackets employed here are of a different design, and feature far shorter outreaches, creating a slightly top-heavy appearance to the columns, owing to the length of the MA 50s. The MA range does not have an alternative cut-off bowl; instead, the lampholder and lamp support can be positioned higher up into the canopy to create a cut-off distribution, which may be what has happened here.

Within a matter of weeks of these pictures being taken, the lanterns were removed, as expected. No replacement lanterns were fitted, however, which may mean that the columns will be removed too, and the section de-illuminated permanently.

< Previous | Next >

BACK TO SURVIVORS IN LEICESTERSHIRE

BACK TO SURVIVORS

CLICK HERE TO MAKE A MONETARY DONATION