Why does New Mexico mount their traffic lights horizontally instead of vertically? (Albuquerque: designs)

[MattHanson9398]

The horizontal arrangement of traffic signal heads is approved by the MUTCD, but most states in the US mount overhead traffic signal heads vertically. I know the horizontal design is also used in Texas, Wisconsin (the horizontal design is being abandoned in favor of the vertical design there), cities in New Jersey, south Florida, and Nebraska (except Omaha). I understand south Florida does it because of hurricanes. NM gets high winds from time to time but nowhere near like it is in the midwest.

So what are reasons behind why traffic lights in New Mexico are mounted horizontally instead of vertically?

[Poncho_NM]

My guess, the winds... We have 21 mph winds right now in Albuquerque at 5:45 am... We get more windy days than South Florida gets hurricane days.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BJpJkXSlxw

[elkotronics]

I know the light design here in Alamogordo can be confusing at times. The horizontal design is made even more confusing when engineers put a green turn signal to in the center of the light array, turning left for instance. One of the weirdest designs I've seen. You must pay extra attention to the lights changing that way, too. You do get used to it but I thought it weird when I first saw it. Yeah, as to why the horizontal light array, perhaps less swaying in the fierce winds we tend to get may be the reason behind it.