Metro-One |
Jul 19, 2021 1:14 AM |
Quote:
Originally Posted by craner
(Post 9343486)
Drove out to Vancouver Island from Calgary & back - here are some of my observations & comments regarding the TCH in BC:
- Seems the most recent 4-laned sections do not include median barriers, this is concerning. One section had upright reflectors in the median (but no barrier) - WTF ?
- The main intersection in Revelstoke is a joke and an accident waiting to happen. Looks like a traffic circle was built to try and improve things rather than doing it properly with an interchange.
- BC highway standards appear to have deteriorated over time. Older twinned sections include a grass median where possible and concrete barriers where a median is not possible (the Coquihalla for example). Later twinned sections eliminated grass medians but have concrete barriers. And as mentioned, some of the most recent sections have no barrier.
- Also, newer twinned sections do not include a 3rd lane for trucks to use as a climbing lane on steep grades.
- The TCH east of Vancouver needs to be expanded from the current 2 lanes each direction as it's been like that since at least the 1970s. 3 lanes each direction out to Chilliwack would be nice.
- It seems 4-laning west of Golden for about 45kms would be pretty simple and inexpensive (by BC standards). Wish they would tackle this low hanging fruit and get a decent chunk done at once.
- I can confirm a traffic signal has been added to the TCH at Field. Unfortunate that we're still adding lights to the TCH. :(
On the Island:
- Was surprised the TCH entering Victoria from the north reduces from 4 lanes to 3 (or 2) lanes. I thought the highway would get wider (not narrower) entering the largest city on the island.
- The rest of the TCH between Victoria & Nanaimo (as far as I went) was 4 lanes but was littered with traffic lights (a very BCey thing to do).
My intent is not to pick on BC. I really wish national highways were a much higher priority for the Federal Government. IMO the Feds should be developing minimum standards for a system of TC Highways and dictating those standards as well as footing 90% of the bill for upgrading these highways.
I think the best I can hope for before I leave this life is for a TCH in BC that is continuously 4-laned from the west to Salmon Arm, and from the east to the Glacier Park east boundary. That would leave from Salmon Arm to the east Glacier Park boundary to 4-lane. I think an alternate route will need to be found for the 3-Valley Gap section.
Anyway - this has all been discussed before, just had to vent - thanks all. :cheers:
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Just a few tidbits for your observations:
100% agree on the lack of median barriers, but I have heard that they are / will be added to most (all?) of the twinned portions.
Aso agree on the need for more interchanges to be built as part of twinning projects (protected Ts are okay at the more rural / barely used local access points).
I would also like to see at least the flat west of Golden section done a single large project.
The TCH in the Valley from 216th street to Whatcom Road in Abbotsford will be expanded to 6 lanes (but they will be HOV lanes). This will also include rebuilding older overpasses and the 232nd and 264th interchanges (and likely the Sumas interchange as well). I believe phase one of this project starts this year or next. It will be two phases.
Not much I can say about the #1 on the Island. Though I would rather see the 17 upgraded to freeway standards first.
The Field traffic light is 100% the doing of the federal government.
And yes, Canada’s lack of a true federal Highway program / system is head scratching to say the least.
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