Veterans Memorial Parkway - freeway conversion

[Dupcheck]

Expressways are best for high speed traffic flow. Freeways, London is full of those. What does that mean anyway, not a blocked way until you stop at the lights or by the traffic?

[kaiserLDN]

Display boards from Clarke Rd. widening/VMP extension to Fanshawe park rd. meeting.

http://www.london.ca/residents/Environment/EAs/Documents/Clarke%20Road%20Final%20PIC1%20Boards.pdf

[haljackey]

On the south end, 401 westbound ramps should be reopened today
http://hwy401vmp.ca/news/construction-update-2017-09-19

[can00k]

What is taking so long for the eastbound ramps and the extension to Wilton Grove to open? It's looks like everything has been ready for at least 3 weeks and I've seen very little construction activity.

[Djeffery]

Originally Posted by can00k

What is taking so long for the eastbound ramps and the extension to Wilton Grove to open? It's looks like everything has been ready for at least 3 weeks and I've seen very little construction activity.

Heard third hand at work today that they keep failing inspection. Sign missing here, some other stupid little thing missing there. Then they have to get the traffic signals certified as well. I tried calling the London number for Dufferin today, but they said the project was being handled from a different office.

[haljackey]

I think the contract goes to the end of the month so they have until then to open it or else face fines and penalties.

In fact, most road construction contracts go to Nov 30.

[MolsonExport]

there isn't enough tim horton's refuse on the sides of the road. Only once the littering by workies reaches the threshold, will the roads be opened. it is a great surrogate for leaning-on-shovels-manship.

Salt of the earth, and shitty pickup trucks.

[go_leafs_go02]

Originally Posted by can00k

What is taking so long for the eastbound ramps and the extension to Wilton Grove to open? It's looks like everything has been ready for at least 3 weeks and I've seen very little construction activity.

According to the City, it opened today:

http://www.london.ca/newsroom/Pages/VMP-eastbond-lanes-now-open.aspx

[Djeffery]

Yep, just came down it and all lanes open, right down to Wilton Grove.

[can00k]

Originally Posted by go_leafs_go02

According to the City, it opened today:

http://www.london.ca/newsroom/Pages/VMP-eastbond-lanes-now-open.aspx

It did, hooray!

[haljackey]

From Mohamed Salih's Facebook page:





https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2409813375902092&set=a.1388805058002934&type=3&theater

[tyeman200]

Looks good! I wonder if they will build an overpass for the train tracks between those 2 roads, or keep it in place.

[Djeffery]

They haven't for the last 15 or whatever years that VMP has crossed those tracks, don't see them doing it now. That line only gets 2 Via trains each way per day, and I can't remember the last time I saw freight there, and I cross there a couple times a day.

[manny_santos]

Originally Posted by Djeffery

They haven't for the last 15 or whatever years that VMP has crossed those tracks, don't see them doing it now. That line only gets 2 Via trains each way per day, and I can't remember the last time I saw freight there, and I cross there a couple times a day.

There are still a couple of freight customers along those tracks between London and Stratford, so I wouldn’t be surprised if the odd freight train crossed VMP. However it has likely dropped in recent years, as the largest customer along there was Electomotive.

The CN Talbot Sub, I’m guessing also doesn’t see a whole lot of traffic anymore, especially since Ford Talbotville closed and Norfolk Southern stopped running freight trains from Detroit through St. Thomas and London.

[haljackey]

Interesting freeway bypass concept that only uses a portion of the VMP. Heads on a new alignment east of the airport instead



Via
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10158992627703631&set=pcb.3237120533059363

[Djeffery]

I never understand the fascination with the idea of a freeway from basically Strathroy to Stratford and KW. Also, as I commented on that thread, not sure why anyone would plan to skip the major N-S roads if you are putting a highway across north London, especially skipping Wonderland. Adelaide would be probably the only one I would consider not putting an interchange if I had to pick 1. I get that the guys on that group like to come up with these things as a sim game or something, but I really question who they think a highway like that is targeted at. You aren't shaving any distance off the drive to KW, Stratford is the only real beneficiary and the highway doesn't really do anything for London either.

[Dengler Avenue]

Originally Posted by Djeffery

I never understand the fascination with the idea of a freeway from basically Strathroy to Stratford and KW. Also, as I commented on that thread, not sure why anyone would plan to skip the major N-S roads if you are putting a highway across north London, especially skipping Wonderland. Adelaide would be probably the only one I would consider not putting an interchange if I had to pick 1. I get that the guys on that group like to come up with these things as a sim game or something, but I really question who they think a highway like that is targeted at. You aren't shaving any distance off the drive to KW, Stratford is the only real beneficiary and the highway doesn't really do anything for London either.

Some of us just like to propose alternatives to the 401 and not put all eggs in one basket. It’s the same mentality for a freeway {7} from Peterborough to Kanata.
Of course, for the most part, dreams stay as dreams because the province needs to be wise with a limited budget.

[TallerIsBetter]

Really love the idea haljackey!

I know this is only fantasy, but it's close to what SHOULD be. I would suggest to add full interchanges at Adelaide and at Wonderland, and would do this to the east of Nissouri Rd (which could be removed as a fully through route) to support a major enhancement of London International Airport. That would be extend runway 27/09 to 11,000 feet to accommodate fully loaded international cargo operations with 777 & 747-8 aircraft (could become an international cargo hub) and entice extensive cargo/heavy aircraft maintenance on the east side of the field. Yes, the 8,800 foot 33/15 can accommodate these planes but not really if they want to run fully loaded to max takeoff weight/full fuel. Overload at Pierson means really big opportunity for YXU in the medium and long term.

Both these ideas are the kind of thing that benefits the city and region out to a hundred or more years in the future - when London could be a million or more in population.

[K85]

this map is terrific, minus around the airport / lake. I'd move it father to the right to take up Nissouri, for possible airport expansion.

[Djeffery]

VMP needs to upgraded, rather than building an almost entire new freeway miles east that also loops around the far side of Fanshawe lake. Other than going to Hyde Park from the 401 east of London, who is going to use this though? You certainly aren't going from White Oaks to Masonville via Thorndale. And there is nothing for west London in this. The highway connection to the 402, if west London is going to be ignored, should be up at Strathroy, before the 402 turns southeast.

As for the airport, you can extend runway 09/27 to about 9800' in the current land constraints, and still have the same space at either end that 15/33 has. Even if you need to move Nissouri Rd, you can either block it at Evelyn and direct traffic over to Fairview, and perhaps put a new road between Fairview that joins back to Nissouri half a mile south of Heemans. Or, something radical like bury Nissouri Rd under the new runway (which would be ridiculously expensive for a relatively minor road like this, but they did do something similar at Ft Lauderdale when they extended a runway over the state highway along the east side of the airport). But the airport and its possible future needs aren't really relevant to a highway around London.