Maintenance costs for the two types of systems differ greatly.

Conventional lighting requires the use of a bucket truck and frequently requires extensive traffic control, such as signs, cones, and lane closures. When poles are mounted on concrete traffic barriers, the inside lane usually has to be closed, resulting in significant traffic disruptions and safety hazards.

One or two persons with a pickup truck can usually perform maintenance on a high mast lighting system. High mast lighting may also eliminate the risks involved with having personnel working near high-speed traffic.