BC Highway Construction

[Ozabald]

Originally Posted by dmuzika

I would agree about the traffic signals; though with the completion of the Regina Bypass, Saskatchewan doesn't have any signals on TCH-1, but does have some uncontrolled intersections in Swift Current and Moose Jaw that need to be closed or consolidated into an interchange. Manitoba on the other hand...

The challenge in the prairies is the Dominion Land Survey, where you theoretically have a rural road crossing the highway in 1-mile increments (granted not all were built). There are also some minor/secondary highway crossings that wouldn't initially require interchanges. At least Alberta has been doing some planning to address their sections, with ROW set aside for bypasses around Strathmore and Medicine Hat, as well as developing an access management strategy to convert its section to a freeway. Who knows when any of it will be funded.

But like the BC Interior, a lot the rural prairie sections don't have the traffic to warrant a full freeway/interstate conversion.

That's good to hear a ROW has been established for bypasses around Strathmore and Medicine Hat. Really for the Hat, just close off the traffic light controlled intersections or slip ramps a la Texas style and TCH-1 would be a full freeway.

In terms of AADT counts, one could say the same about NB and NS as well.

[craner]

TCH in Alberta is basically a freeway from the BC border to the east side of Calgary (if you use the Ring Road). East of there, yes, lots of upgrading required.

Ozabald - do you have an example of a “Texas style slip ramp” ?

[Ozabald]

Originally Posted by craner

TCH in Alberta is basically a freeway from the BC border to the east side of Calgary (if you use the Ring Road). East of there, yes, lots of upgrading required.

Ozabald - do you have an example of a “Texas style slip ramp” ?

Here's the definition of a slip ramp; "Texas style":
https://www.texashighwayman.com/glossary.shtml

Slip ramp in Texas:
I-35 NB; exit 280; Salado, TX
https://www.google.com/maps/@30.8769497,...EdQT13qbA-A!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

Slip ramp - Swift Current, SK:
https://www.google.com/maps/@50.301844,-...r5uxkgjCHQg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

[Dengler Avenue]

Similar to my proposal for Morris, MB?


By the way, we can probably try similar stuff for Sorrento, Salmon Arm, Sicamous, Revelstoke and Golden.

[Tvisforme]

Originally Posted by craner

....Ozabald - do you have an example of a “Texas style slip ramp” ?

Originally Posted by Ozabald

Here's the definition of a slip ramp; "Texas style":
https://www.texashighwayman.com/glossary.shtml

Slip ramp in Texas:
I-35 NB; exit 280; Salado, TX
https://www.google.com/maps/@30.8769497,...EdQT13qbA-A!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

Slip ramp - Swift Current, SK:
https://www.google.com/maps/@50.301844,-...r5uxkgjCHQg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

Would the recent westbound changes in North Vancouver (between Lillooet and Mountain Highway) be considered a slip ramp?

https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZR7k2Ya1Dkj88SgZ8

[Dengler Avenue]

Oh wow it does. The ramps at Lonsdale Avenue border on that type of ramps too.

[dmuzika]

Originally Posted by Dengler Avenue

Similar to my proposal for Morris, MB?


By the way, we can probably try similar stuff for Sorrento, Salmon Arm, Sicamous, Revelstoke and Golden.

Having recently driven through Morris, you'd destroy their central business district, there's plenty of land for a bypass. I suspect the same for Salmon Arm.

[Dengler Avenue]

Originally Posted by dmuzika

Having recently driven through Morris, you'd destroy their central business district, there's plenty of land for a bypass. I suspect the same for Salmon Arm.

I’ve included business relocation in the proposal too, though.

[Metro-One]

Originally Posted by Dengler Avenue

Similar to my proposal for Morris, MB?


By the way, we can probably try similar stuff for Sorrento, Salmon Arm, Sicamous, Revelstoke and Golden.

Salmon Arm is definitely going to be the most difficult town centre to upgrade the #1 through.

The other towns listed would be relatively easy.

[Tvisforme]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

Salmon Arm is definitely going to be the most difficult town centre to upgrade the #1 through.

The other towns listed would be relatively easy.

I wonder what the cost comparison would be for upgrading roughly 24 kilometres of the existing Salmon Arm alignment between Tappen and Canoe versus a bypass route along Sunnybrae-Canoe Point Road that crosses the lake to Engineer's Point and rejoins the existing highway at Canoe. It would make quite a difference for through traffic.

[dmuzika]

Originally Posted by Tvisforme

I wonder what the cost comparison would be for upgrading roughly 24 kilometres of the existing Salmon Arm alignment between Tappen and Canoe versus a bypass route along Sunnybrae-Canoe Point Road that crosses the lake to Engineer's Point and rejoins the existing highway at Canoe. It would make quite a difference for through traffic.

I wonder if access to Hwy 97B might be an issue. It seems that if Hwy 97A were to be twinned ("four-laned") from the Okanagan to Hwy 1, Hwy 97B would probably be easier to expand than Hwy 97A north of Enderby. If that scenario played out, there would still be a lot of traffic that would bypass the proposed bridge. I'm also wondering if Salmon Arm would still want people accessing the city, even if the TCH didn't continue through its city centre.

I wonder if a bypass couldn't be built to the south of Salmon Arm along the base of Mount Ida?

[Dengler Avenue]

A bypass south of Salmon Arm sounds better. That may require rebuilding the through lanes of the interchange at Salmon River Road, though. (This is to cap the maximum slope of the bypass at 5% for 4.2 km at the foot of the hill.) I wonder how much work that will be.

[Tvisforme]

Originally Posted by dmuzika

I wonder if access to Hwy 97B might be an issue. It seems that if Hwy 97A were to be twinned ("four-laned") from the Okanagan to Hwy 1, Hwy 97B would probably be easier to expand than Hwy 97A north of Enderby. If that scenario played out, there would still be a lot of traffic that would bypass the proposed bridge. I'm also wondering if Salmon Arm would still want people accessing the city, even if the TCH didn't continue through its city centre.

I wonder if a bypass couldn't be built to the south of Salmon Arm along the base of Mount Ida?

Originally Posted by Dengler Avenue

A bypass south of Salmon Arm sounds better. That may require rebuilding the through lanes of the interchange at Salmon River Road, though. (This is to cap the maximum slope of the bypass at 5% for 4.2 km at the foot of the hill.) I wonder how much work that will be.

I think the northern route works better for a 97B upgrade. The existing Highway 1 to the east of Salmon Arm is a straight line through flat, low-density land and it could easily become part of 97B; connecting with Highway 1 near Canoe. The distance going north is the same or shorter than skirting the south end of Salmon Arm and you'd still have easy access to Salmon Arm via the old Highway 1 roads from both the west and the east.

[Dengler Avenue]

Is that in Google Earth Pro, or Global view of Google earth? It even shows the shape of the mountains.

[Tvisforme]

Originally Posted by Dengler Avenue

Is that in Google Earth Pro, or Global view of Google earth? It even shows the shape of the mountains.

Google Maps (on PC) with satellite view enabled. If you hold down CTRL you can move the view in 3D.

[dmuzika]

Originally Posted by Tvisforme

I think the northern route works better for a 97B upgrade. The existing Highway 1 to the east of Salmon Arm is a straight line through flat, low-density land and it could easily become part of 97B; connecting with Highway 1 near Canoe. The distance going north is the same or shorter than skirting the south end of Salmon Arm and you'd still have easy access to Salmon Arm via the old Highway 1 roads from both the west and the east.

That definitely would be an option. My concern would be the political viability. BCMoTI currently operates under the premise that "highways connect communities, not bypass them", so they might not go for that significant of a bypass. In addition to that, the Salmon Arm business community, which is advocating a bypass of its Central Business District, might not be in favor of that significant of a bypass (see Merritt and the missing Hwy 97C link). Don't forget the environmental impact and attention it would garner from special interest groups. Other than that, a bridge would a dramatic addition and effective bypass.

[Metro-One]

Originally Posted by Tvisforme

I think the northern route works better for a 97B upgrade. The existing Highway 1 to the east of Salmon Arm is a straight line through flat, low-density land and it could easily become part of 97B; connecting with Highway 1 near Canoe. The distance going north is the same or shorter than skirting the south end of Salmon Arm and you'd still have easy access to Salmon Arm via the old Highway 1 roads from both the west and the east.

This is 100% the logical idea that would be done in most developed nations, but this is Canada / BC, so it is 100% not going to happen, ever.

This is obvious in the recent investment done to twin the highway west of Salmon Arm with an interchange, a section that would be completely bypassed in the above bypass.

[Dengler Avenue]

It’s just B.C. On one hand, I get the idea.
Meanwhile in Ontario, TCH, despite its meagre volume in Northern Ontario, is still understood as a route carrying long-distance traffic, and classified and treated accordingly (in terms of design and maintenance). As such, its long-term upgrades around built up area will be an uninterrupted 4-lane facility (aka freeway bypasses).

Back to Salmon Arm: Bluntly, if it weren’t for that new interchange on the west side helming things in, I wouldn’t have suggested something as insane as a freeway through the town. Then again, all that’s needed is 40-m ROW, which just means demolishing the south side of the section through the town.

[Dengler Avenue]

My attempt at Freeway by Golden | Mon essai à une autoroute à Golden:

[Dengler Avenue]

Sicamous: