# Why are there liquid nitrogen tanks in the median?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-liquid-nitrogen-tanks-in-the-median/592968>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 16, 2011, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-liquid-nitrogen-tanks-in-the-median/592968 "2011-08-16T23:20:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![snailboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/97f17d/32.png) [@snailboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snailboy)\
**Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-liquid-nitrogen-tanks-in-the-median/592968/1 "2011-08-16T23:20:54Z")

</div>

Since moving to Dallas, I’ve seen two or three nitrogen tanks in the median of streets connected to some box. Below is a picture of the one near my house. I mentioned it on Facebook a few weeks ago, and today my brother said he saw one in Tyler where he lives. I don’t recall ever seeing any until a few months ago. What is their purpose?

[http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/3510/08161806.jpg](http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/3510/08161806.jpg)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\
**Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-liquid-nitrogen-tanks-in-the-median/592968/2 "2011-08-16T23:25:33Z")

</div>

Underground wire/cable maintenance, most likely: [Google Answers: Liquid nitrogen into sewers - why?](http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=309530)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![snailboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/97f17d/32.png) [@snailboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snailboy)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-liquid-nitrogen-tanks-in-the-median/592968/3 "2011-08-17T00:13:52Z")

</div>

Interesting. How long do they typically get left there?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-liquid-nitrogen-tanks-in-the-median/592968/4 "2011-08-17T00:34:41Z")

</div>

Morbid soul that I am, my immediate thought was - has anyone ever run into one in a traffic accident? Anything happen?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-liquid-nitrogen-tanks-in-the-median/592968/5 "2011-08-17T00:36:26Z")

</div>

> [@Canadjun](#):
>
> Morbid soul that I am, my immediate thought was - has anyone ever run into one in a traffic accident? Anything happen?

umm… ever seen _Terminator 2?_

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![user\_hostile](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/user_hostile/32/474_2.png) [@user\_hostile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/user_hostile)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-liquid-nitrogen-tanks-in-the-median/592968/6 "2011-08-17T00:48:31Z")

</div>

> [@Canadjun](#):
>
> Morbid soul that I am, my immediate thought was - has anyone ever run into one in a traffic accident? Anything happen?

Only a T-1000. But not for long…

ETA [Homer Simpson] Oooh! **jz78817** beat me to it! [/Homer Simpson]