Innovative solar road light solution for iconic ACT Bus Shelters
The ACT government needed an innovative road light solution for their much-loved iconic bus shelters.
Over 100 of the shelters were identified as not having adequate illumination. Leadsun was approached by Affinity Electrical to work on Stage 1 of the project, illuminating 31 bus shelters for Transport Canberra.
Client
Affinity Electrical for Transport Canberra
Traditional Custodians
Ngunnawal people
A Sustainable Road Light Solution Needed for Canberra’s Bus Stops
They are to Canberrans what the red phone box is to a Londoner or what the yellow taxi cab means to a New Yorker. But as Carl Pillig from Network and Infrastructure Planning, Transport Canberra told ABC Radio in 2023, many of the iconic round concrete bus shelters were not well lit. Nearby streetlights didn’t provide adequate ambient lighting and the shelters themselves were not illuminated even though they were designed with internal lighting in mind.
“The [ambient] street lighting has always been the lighting which has historically lit out streetscapes and our bus stops. Interestingly the shelters do have conduits built into them… they were always designed to have some form of lighting in them.”
Transport Canberra wanted to realise the original vision of the bus shelters’ architect, Clem Cummings by trialing a solar road light solution that could increase road safety and decrease theft and vandalism.
Project Challenges
A quick turnaround for new road light system
Transport Canberra commissioned a trial for 31 bus shelters. Leadsun needed to find the best solution for the job and complete the installation in 8 weeks before any further stages would be funded.
Cloudy weather and shading from trees
The new solar road light solution had to work on cloudy days and on bus shelters shaded by surrounding trees. As Carl Pillig explained, “With some of the cloudy weather that we’ve had recently, I’ve been out and about checking out the shelters… one of the stipulations was that it had to come on at dusk and go off at dawn and stay on for the whole night.”
The Leadsun Road Light Solution
Leadsun worked closely with Transport Canberra to design and install a custom solar lighting system.
The AE3 road light was selected for the job because all of the electronic components are securely housed within the solar engine. Purpose-built angled brackets were used to mount the solar engines onto the roofs of the bus shelters.
Leadsun Link Lights were installed inside the bus shelters and fitted with protective cage covers to reduce the risk of vandalism.
Shining a Light on Canberra’s Commuters
The response from the community to the newly illuminated bus stops has been overwhelmingly positive with many calling for the remaining bus shelters to be lit too.
“The results were magnificent. They really popped…they not only improved vision for the passenger but also for the driver on those late [and] dark nights. We’ve been able to fulfill the dream – or the vision – of those shelters and start installing lights into them. We’re certainly on the right track… the lights are coming on, so to speak”, said Carl Pillig after the Stage 1 trial.
To date, none of the road lights have needed to be replaced since installation in April 2023. Leadsun is proud to have exceeded expectations on this project in terms of delivery timelines, quality of product and value for money for the client. “The ACT Government provided their community a long-awaited solution. A WIN WIN,” said Leadsun Business Development Manager, Gordon Manzione.
Let there be light!
Link Road Light Products used
- Solar module series –AE3
- Solar size – 60W
- LED output programming: 5W 100% dusk until dawn
Lighting Applications
Acknowledgement of Country
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which this project was undertaken, the Ngunnawal people of the ACT and surrounding region. We recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture, and we pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.
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