A structural assessment was undertaken for a shared streetlight pole following a vehicle collision that caused the pole to lean. The investigation assessed the structural integrity of the pole and its ability to carry tram line cable loads, while also determining whether the leaning was caused by the recent impact.

Project Overview

Following a vehicle collision involving a shared streetlight pole, concerns were raised regarding the structural integrity of the asset.

The pole supports multiple services including street lighting, tram infrastructure, and CCTV equipment. While the network operator completed a technical assessment of the streetlight operation, a structural and line load assessment was required to determine whether the pole remained structurally suitable.

The investigation focused on assessing the pole’s capacity to support existing cable loads associated with tram operations and identifying whether the observed leaning was caused by the vehicle impact.

Project Scope

The structural assessment included:

Site Inspection

• On-site inspection of the impacted streetlight pole
• Visual assessment of structural condition and pole alignment
• Review of existing infrastructure attachments

Structural Assessment

• Evaluation of the pole’s structural condition following the collision
• Assessment of the pole’s capacity to support tram line cable loads
• Review of line loading from existing services including streetlight, tram, and CCTV infrastructure

Cause Assessment

• Investigation into whether the pole leaning was caused by vehicle impact
• Assessment of potential structural damage or foundation movement

Engineering Advice

• Determination of whether the pole remains structurally suitable
• Recommendations for repair, monitoring, or replacement if required

Relevant Accreditation / Quality Standards

Utility infrastructure engineering standards

Value Add

This investigation delivered several key benefits:

• Rapid engineering assessment: provided timely structural evaluation following infrastructure damage.
• Infrastructure integrity: confirmed the pole’s capacity against standards to support existing service loads against historic load demands
• Operational continuity: enabled informed decisions regarding asset condition and next steps.
• Evidence-based findings: provided engineering advice on the likely cause of the pole leaning.

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