Clarion, PA Travel Plaza Uses Pole Base for Fast Parking Lot Lighting

“If you’re casting them in place [light pole bases], you'd probably be looking at around two weeks to get the materials, to dig the hole, to pour the concrete, and then wait for it to cure long enough to put the light pole on. By using Pole Base, they did it in about three days.”

-Tom McConnell, American Precast Industries

THE CHALLENGE

To support heavy parking lot traffic flows and withstand the occasional backend bumper, the Clarion Travel Plaza in Pennsylvania needed lasting site lighting that would aesthetically blend with its modern building design and be installed quickly to keep construction timelines progressing smoothly.

Beyond aesthetics and strength, the site needed a solution that could still perform even in bad soils. The project team set its sights on Pole Base, and never looked back.

THE SOLUTION

Gas station and convenience center lighting has to go in quickly to keep site work contractors on schedule. The project team knew this ruled out pouring traditional cast-in-place bases and the electrical contractor didn’t want to deal with the hassle of pouring and curing traditional bases on site. American Precast worked with Clark Electric to provide the project’s 20 light pole bases, completing the project in just three days.

To remedy the poor soil conditions, the site work contractor brought in new soil, and the original specifications for the light pole bases remained unchanged.

THE OUTCOME

Pole Base was selected for this project for its ease of installation, optimal performance in parking lot applications, and ability to remain design-consistent, even when soil conditions pose a problem. Using cast-in-place foundations would have lengthened the installation up to two weeks, nearly four times longer than installing all 20 precast Pole Bases. That’s time and money that can’t be recovered.

The results are modern, smooth light pole bases that are functional and strong, saving contractors valuable labor and expenses.