Manitoba Highways

[Dengler Avenue]

@Ozabald got one point right though: Transportation departments tend to be more forgiving with substandard ROW when it comes to converting existing roadway into a divided freeway. Even in Ontario, while the minimum ROW for a freeway is 60 m, there are freeways converted from 2-lane roadways that have ROW as narrow as 30 m ~ 45 m.

[WildCake]

Originally Posted by Dengler Avenue

@Ozabald got one point right though: Transportation departments tend to be more forgiving with substandard ROW when it comes to converting existing roadway into a divided freeway. Even in Ontario, while the minimum ROW for a freeway is 60 m, there are freeways converted from 2-lane roadways that have ROW as narrow as 30 m ~ 45 m.

Looking at maps of Victoria Ave, it doesn't seem like there is a true lack of space. Most intersections could have been converted to diamond interchanges with minimal property acquisitions, especially if they used a compact SPUI design. Mostly just parking space losses. I think trenching the thing would be overkill, this is Regina after all.

I don't see why it was not feasible to freeway Victoria Ave, especially compared with how much the bypass cost. The big issue would have been the WB left turn from Victoria to Ring Rd but that wouldn't have been unsurmountable with some engineering magic and a pile of cash.

There must have been other forces at play that, such as considerations for dangerous goods transport or maybe just really long term planning, which isn't too common in Canada. We tend to be more reactive than proactive.

[Dengler Avenue]

https://www.kenoraonline.com/article...17-west-begins
Planning of Phase 2 twinning of TCH, from ON-673 eastward for 8.5 KM, has begun.

Ps: I still find it odd that Phase 3 consists of 25 KM, although someone at MTO says that it can always be subcontracted into more than one stretches.

[cammy85]

Originally Posted by Ozabald

Since the entrances to Morris at both ends would be low volume, you could have the lane go under 75 with something simple like a culvert underpass (think that's the term). Newfoundland uses these culvert underpasses for some low volume interchanges on the divided section of TCH-1 rather than building a full overpass.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Fo...y9hs?entry=ttu

Should budget will be an issue, MB-23 will be the entry/exit point for Morris; with the access to the south end of Morris as an NB exit only; and the north end of Morris as NB entry only.

At least Morris isn't like Chamberlain, SK. Highway 11 is twinned from Saskatoon to Regina, except for Chamberlain; with the small exception that it's two-lane through the entire town. It's ameller than Morris, but no doubt annoying for commuters and truckers + residents.

[WildCake]

Originally Posted by cammy85

At least Morris isn't like Chamberlain, SK. Highway 11 is twinned from Saskatoon to Regina, except for Chamberlain; with the small exception that it's two-lane through the entire town. It's ameller than Morris, but no doubt annoying for commuters and truckers + residents.

Interesting comparison. Twinning looks like it might get expensive as it's hemmed in by the rail line and valley like terrain on the other side of town.

I bet Chamberlain residents and the trucking community would be more likely to put pressure on the provincial government to upgrade because it isn't twinned and theres more safety risks with that than Morris, where it is twinned through town. The local business community in Morris would probably hurt if the highway bypassed town and you would bet they would try and oppose it as well.

[Ozabald]

Originally Posted by cammy85

At least Morris isn't like Chamberlain, SK. Highway 11 is twinned from Saskatoon to Regina, except for Chamberlain; with the small exception that it's two-lane through the entire town. It's ameller than Morris, but no doubt annoying for commuters and truckers + residents.

Sounds like an argument our sub-standard highway is better than your sub-standard highway. Both Morris and Chamberlain need to go.

[Dengler Avenue]

Actually I have a cut-throat idea for Morris, since there are parallel streets like Lucinda and Mary.
From Rodeo to McMillan Street, we can demolish all the properties on the west side of 75, which will expand the ROW through town to 90 m, sufficient for a freeway (60 m) + service road (30 m). Cross roads will be closed, replaced by an overpass, or converted to right-in-right-out terminated at one-way service roads on both sides of the freeway except for MB-23, which will go through under the freeway.
(It will be like TCH through Grand Fall - Windsor in Newfoundland.)
Beyond MacMillan Street, we can twin that bridge to make 75 properly divided. Meanwhile, Mary Street will be extended across the dike(?) to connect to the cemetery.
As for those properties, they can go to other parts of Morris.

Who said that what was done in the 60s can’t be done again? Heck even California (CalTran) demolished established neighbourhoods in Bakersfield in 2017(!) to make way for CA-58 (future I-40).

=====
As for Chamberlain, we can use similar treatment to TCH (and SK-19) around Ernfold.

[Dengler Avenue]

There, I've finished drawing after thinking for 2 hours. I present to you Morris Thruway for MB-75.
=====
Là, la job est faite après que j'ai pensé à ça pendant 2 heures. Je vous présente l'Autoroute 75 au milieu du village de Morris.



Ps: Are there franco-manitobans on this forum? Y-a-t-il des franco-manitobains sur ce forum là??

[harls]

Dengler, Morris Killer!

I would have built a Décarie trench or tunnel under the town. Might only take up 300% of the entire provincial budget.

At least rrskylar can get to Grand Forks marginally faster

[Dengler Avenue]

Originally Posted by harls

Dengler, Morris Killer!

I would have built a Décarie trench or tunnel under the town. Might only take up 300% of the entire provincial budget.

At least rrskylar can get to Grand Forks marginally faster

I’ve thought about Décarie-style freeway as well.

[rrskylar]

Originally Posted by harls

Dengler, Morris Killer!

I would have built a Décarie trench or tunnel under the town. Might only take up 300% of the entire provincial budget.

At least rrskylar can get to Grand Forks marginally faster

Damn, I was hoping for an elevated expressway over the town!

Ever drive over Wallace, Idaho?

[Dengler Avenue]

Originally Posted by rrskylar

Damn, I was hoping for an elevated expressway over the town!

Ever drive over Wallace, Idaho?

That’s expensive though. That’s why I only have an overpass for the freeway across MB-23.
In my impression, a lot of states do what I’ve proposed for the U.S. routes through towns. Examples include I-69 (U.S.-59) skimming by Cleveland, Texas.
(Edit: I think of an example now: QC-A85 through Saint-Antonin, Saint-Louis-du-Ha!-Ha!, Cabano, Notre-Dame-du-Lac, Dégelis.)
Plus, I make sure to move the affected properties to other parts of the town.

[Ozabald]

Originally Posted by rrskylar

Damn, I was hoping for an elevated expressway over the town!

Ever drive over Wallace, Idaho?

And there's I-5 through Kalama, WA.
https://www.google.com/maps/@46.0089...8192?entry=ttu

[Dengler Avenue]

Impressive! WDoT managed to fit 6 lanes of I-5 with 7.62 m (25-ft) grassy median + 2 two-way service roads in 70 m of ROW.
Yes, that’s close to what I have in mind.
Ps: 60 m ROW for freeway is enough to fit at most 6 lanes.

[Dengler Avenue]

Okay I can't find the thread for Saskatchewan Highways, so I will drop my designs here. Captions are bilingual because it's Trans-Canada Highway.
=====
Okay, puisque je ne peux pas trouver le fil du réseau routier saskachois, je vais mettre mes dessins ici-bàs. Les captions sont bilingues parce que, bien, c'est la route transcanadienne.

Moosonin (2 interchanges/échangeurs):


Moose Jaw (4 interchanges/échangeurs):

[Carboy15]

Originally Posted by Dengler Avenue

Okay I can't find the thread for Saskatchewan Highways, so I will drop my designs here. Captions are bilingual because it's Trans-Canada Highway.
=====
Okay, puisque je ne peux pas trouver le fil du réseau routier saskachois, je vais mettre mes dessins ici-bàs. Les captions sont bilingues parce que, bien, c'est la route transcanadienne.

Moosonin (2 interchanges/échangeurs):


Moose Jaw (4 interchanges/échangeurs):

That would be perfect for Moose Jaw and Moosimin. How about the area around Ernfold? They have such a wide far apart section, they should bring the first Buc ee's to Saskatchewan and place it there LOL

[Carboy15]

Originally Posted by Dengler Avenue

There, I've finished drawing after thinking for 2 hours. I present to you Morris Thruway for MB-75.
=====
Là, la job est faite après que j'ai pensé à ça pendant 2 heures. Je vous présente l'Autoroute 75 au milieu du village de Morris.



Ps: Are there franco-manitobans on this forum? Y-a-t-il des franco-manitobains sur ce forum là??

The idea of a freeway going through Morris, I would say no. Building a tunnel or an elevated highway is unrealistic, and if so, they'd have to knock down buildings for the right of way. I would stick with a bypass, but I see your point. At least the town wouldn't lose as much business of traffic

[Dengler Avenue]

Originally Posted by Carboy15

The idea of a freeway going through Morris, I would say no. Building a tunnel or an elevated highway is unrealistic, and if so, they'd have to knock down buildings for the right of way. I would stick with a bypass, but I see your point. At least the town wouldn't lose as much business of traffic

I have an idea! Maybe the bypass can be signed as MB-75 and the “business loop” (using Interstate-highway lingo here) as MB-75A. Alternatively, the bypass can be signed as MB-175 with the current route retaining the number.

Ps: I’ll think about your comments about Ernfold later. It’s dinner time for me~

[Carboy15]

https://imgur.io/a/JvUjIHO

[Carboy15]

Originally Posted by Carboy15

https://imgur.io/a/JvUjIHO

Blue represents highways
Orange represents rail relocations
White are gravel/service roads
Green is exit/ slip lanes
Yellow X means road closed