401 Interchanges

[Dengler Avenue]

8 lanes for the 401??

[Djeffery]

Originally Posted by haljackey

One of the overpasses will be rebuilt way to the east of the current structure. Usually replacements are made right next to the existing bridges.

They had decided several years ago now that they were going to move the Glanworth Drive bridge well to the east. They had originally planned to not replace it at all, and instead direct traffic onto Tempo Rd where they could then go over the 401 on Col Talbot. The farmers protested this saying it would be very dangerous to mix farm vehicles with 4 lanes of Col Talbot traffic as well as merging and diverging 401 traffic. This new plan gets Glanworth Dr well away from this interchange, which currently it merges right in the middle of the off ramp from west to northbound.

[Djeffery]

Originally Posted by Dengler Avenue

8 lanes for the 401??

I'm sure eventually. It's only 4 now. I can't really see that part needing to go more than 6 wide for decades yet, but I'm sure the new bridges will be built to handle 8.

[tyeman200]

Something random to note. I don't understand why the Eastbound side with 3 lanes has 80km/h signs posted. Everyone doesn't slow at all and still goes 120+, and there is no issues.

[haljackey]

Be careful, going 40 over in a 80 is considered stunt driving now. Also fines doubled on construction.

I agree not much is happening eastbound right now so should stay 100

[Innsertnamehere]

40 over is stunt driving for areas with limits below 80, not 80 itself, to be clear. So doing 111 in a 70 zone would be stunt driving, but doing 121 in an 80 zone would not.

[MolsonExport]

Saw a convoy of about 70 motorcyclists on Sunday, doing wheelies and stunt driving on Hyde Park Road. These guys ride recklessly, speed, and make a shitload of noise, with impunity. Why do we, as a society, give so much latitude to young men who want to act like 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵? Whether it is aggressive driving with their prickup trucks, speeding and stunt driving on motorcycles, or modifed, gas-pack mufflers on trucks, cars, and motorcycles...I hate these fuckers.

[ericmacm]

I have been driving back and forth between London and Woodstock/Kitchener frequently these days, and the crews are making great progress on the new Dorchester Road interchange. I was just up in Kitchener on Tuesday and saw that they already have the rebar up for the central columns, and are already installing sheet pile on the embankments for the overpass.

[Djeffery]

Yes, they are moving surprisingly fast on this. Especially when you think how long the overpass (not even interchange) on Dingman took a couple years ago.

Also noticed today that they have rebar forms up for at least 2 centre pillars at Highbury on the west side of the current bridge. I suspect this will be a case of building a partial bridge on the west side, shift traffic, demolish and rebuild the rest of the new bridge in the existing alignment.

Also, a touch west of this, the old westbound bridges over Pond Mills and CNR have been demolished. Noticed today from the eastbound side, you can see down onto Pond Mills under the new westbound bridge built last year.

[haljackey]

Originally Posted by Djeffery

Also noticed today that they have rebar forms up for at least 2 centre pillars at Highbury on the west side of the current bridge. I suspect this will be a case of building a partial bridge on the west side, shift traffic, demolish and rebuild the rest of the new bridge in the existing alignment.

I believe an entirely new overpass will be built to the side. It will be fully done before the existing span is closed. It will also be 6 lanes but I am not sure if the rightmost lanes will be for dedicated exits for the loops, or if they will continue past and then merge.

Still lots to do here, and along with the Dorchester and Colonel Talbot rebuilds the 401 will be ready for widening, or at least full aux lanes (Old Victoria Road isn't long enough). 6 Lanes are being pushed west of the 402 once Colonel Talbot is done, and we can get 8 lanes towards the 403 with the continued bridge replacements like Dorchester.

...But still stoplights on Highbury and VMP because London doesn't want freeways hahaha. We will also get lights at Colonel Talbot but I'm ok with that as it's not a staged freeway.

[ericmacm]

Just drove up to the GTA, and there is more fast progress happening. The crews at both Highbury and Dorchester both already have the concrete forms up around the rebar. Sheet pile is already in place on both sides of the overpass embankment at Dorchester.

Anyone been by Colonel Talbot recently? I haven’t been out there in a bit so I haven’t been able to see the progress over there.

[Djeffery]

I don't think anything is going on at Colonel Talbot yet but I haven't been down that way in quite a while.

[ericmacm]

Originally Posted by Djeffery

I don't think anything is going on at Colonel Talbot yet but I haven't been down that way in quite a while.

About a month ago I drove through there and there was some work happening - construction signage was up, tree clearing was happening, and there was equipment doing some minor grading work east of the Glanworth Drive overpass.

[Djeffery]

Originally Posted by ericmacm

About a month ago I drove through there and there was some work happening - construction signage was up, tree clearing was happening, and there was equipment doing some minor grading work east of the Glanworth Drive overpass.

They might be starting advance work on the new Glanworth overpass, which I think would need to be done before Colonel Talbot goes ahead. But then I thought the same thing a few years ago when I saw some work happening in the field on the south side, east of Glanworth, and it turned into nothing either. I'll have to try to get a scouting trip in that way at work sometime soon. I was just in Lambeth on Thursday but I took the 402 back east.

[haljackey]

I drove to Windsor during the May 2-4 weekend and for Colonel Talbot / Highway 4, no work on the interchange itself is happening. However, grading is well underway for the new Glanworth Drive overpass. Its replacement is well to the northeast of the current bridge so there will need to be a lot of road building to route the road to the new bridge as well. I assume it's much further away from Colonel Talbot to fit in the future on/off ramps perhaps without a longer span.

So once the new bridge is done, I assume the old one will be demo'd and perhaps even Colonel Talbot traffic would be routed to use this while the existing Colonel Talbot overpass is replaced. At this point, I assume the old coverleaf will continue to exist for at least another year as this construction season seems to be for all the prep/surrounding work to get done.

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At Highbury, you get your own lane entering the 401 from Highbury SB to 401 WB, which is pretty nice compared to that short merge during last year's construction staging. And yes Colums are being built in the median directly west of the current overpass. It's going to be VERY close to the existing structure but not a staged replacement. New build, then demo the old structure.



http://www.hwy401highbury.ca/resources/39%20-%20GWP%203032-11-00_Final%20TESR%20Addendum_1023.pdf

[Djeffery]

The Dorchester interchange is now open.

[GreatTallNorth2]

Does anyone know what the finished project will look like on the 401 between Highbury and Wellington? It seems that they will be adding lanes either to the main traffic flow or more lanes to exit onto Wellington? It's hard to tell what they are doing.

[CanadianTalk]

Originally Posted by GreatTallNorth2

Does anyone know what the finished project will look like on the 401 between Highbury and Wellington? It seems that they will be adding lanes either to the main traffic flow or more lanes to exit onto Wellington? It's hard to tell what they are doing.

It looks like there will be a continuous merge lane from the Highbury SB to 401 WB on-ramp to the Exeter Road off-ramp, as well as another continuous merge lane from the Wellington to 401 EB on-ramp to the Highbury off-ramp.

Also looks like the 401 will remain at 3 regular traffic lanes in each direction.

https://hwy401highbury.ca/resources/rpt_2022-3004_Hwy401Highbury_dcr_final_toMTO.pdf

[CanadianTalk]

Here is a summary of construction activities during the 2025 season for the Highbury and Colonel Talbot (Highway 4) 401 interchange projects.

Highway 401 and Colonel Talbot

• Construct new Highway 4 (Colonel Talbot Road) bridge offline
• Construct abutments with approaches and install new girders for new Highway 4 bridge
• Construct the Tempo Road Realignment
• Construct new Glanworth Drive bridge and deck structure
• Complete construction of Littlewood Drive and Glanworth Drive realignments, Littlewood Drive and Littlewood Place
• Widen northern portion of Highway 4
• Remove existing Glanworth Drive bridge

https://www.hwy401coltalbot.com/copy-of-public-information-centre


Highway 401 and Highbury Ave

• Complete the replacement of Murray Drain culvert, CNR structure, and Pond Mills structure
• Complete the replacement of Elliot-Laidlaw Drain culvert
• Construct substructure for portion of Highbury Avenue structure
• Installation of the girder for portion of the new Highbury Avenue structure
• Construct portion of new N-E ramp
• Widening of Highbury Avenue up to the level of the existing platform

https://hwy401highbury.ca/resources/rpt_2022-3004_Hwy401Highbury_dcr_final_toMTO.pdf



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And just a reminder that both projects are supposed to wrap up by the end of 2027, with most of the substantial work completed by the end of next year.

Highbury (2026 season)

• Construction of the median barrier wall, median sewers, high mast lighting and overhead signs
• Demolition of Highbury Avenue structure
• Complete installation of girders for Highbury Avenue structure
• Realignment and paving of ramps along new alignment

Highbury (2027 season)

• Rehabilitation of pavement along Highway 401 east of Highbury Avenue
• Complete ramp reconstruction
• Complete paving of Highbury Avenue and construct median island

Colonel Talbot (2026 season)

• Construct new Highway 4 bridge deck and structure
• Complete widening and realignment of Highway 4 except surface course paving
• Construct new interchange ramps and speed change lanes
• Remove existing Highway 4 bridge
• Construct southbound lanes of Colonel Talbot Road
• Construct realignment of Burtwistle Lane

Colonel Talbot (2027 season)

• Complete surface course paving and construction of raised median on Highway 4
• Complete surface course paving of interchange ramps
• Construct aesthetic monuments at Highway 4 Underpass
• Complete remaining portions of median tall wall barrier

[Djeffery]

What does

2025 - Construct new Highway 4 (Colonel Talbot Road) bridge offline

and

2026 - Construct new Highway 4 bridge deck and structure

all mean? Does this mean partial new bridge this year beside the current bridge, then next year, demolish the current bridge and build the rest of the new bridge?