London Roads

[MolsonExport]

Originally Posted by Snark

It will be interesting to see how the provincial government's apparent coming clampdown on dedicated bike facilities on streets will affect every municipality that has active transportation planning (existing and future). If it all comes to pass, large portions of every municipality's master planning will have to be rewritten (to exclude a lot of planned dedicated on-street bike facilities), and perhaps even existing facilities be removed.

I wouldn't dispute your assertion in the scenario you outline above, but the provincial position is driven by conservative political opinions and ideology, not technical considerations. You may recall that the premier's brother, when mayor of Toronto, referred to such users of bike facilities as "bike riding pinkos" (and I wouldn't be surprised if he made allusions to their sexual orientation as well under his breath). Their opinion (and solution) is for all those miscreants to be real men and get a real job and buy a real car, instead of riding your bicycle to the health store to get your vegan food on the way to the monthly meeting of the local Marxist chapter.

The pendulum of politics is swinging back to the right-wing side of the spectrum in much of the Western world. Expect more of these sorts of things, and initiatives much stronger than just blackballing bikes.

Good post. A prescient interpretation of what is happening and coming down te pike.

[Snark]

Today the provincial government passed a bill requiring all municipalities' proposed new on-street bike lanes on existing streets to be submitted to the province for approval prior to proceeding. In some cases, existing facilities are to be removed.

Here is the new development: the bill provides the Province legal immunity from cyclists who are injured or killed on roads that had bike lanes removed, or bike lanes denied from being constructed.

Very Trumpian. Expect more of the same from right-wing politicians and groups in Canada as they feel more emboldened by actions happening south of the border.

[haljackey]

Originally Posted by Snark

Today the provincial government passed a bill requiring all municipalities' proposed new on-street bike lanes on existing streets to be submitted to the province for approval prior to proceeding. In some cases, existing facilities are to be removed.

Here is the new development: the bill provides the Province legal immunity from cyclists who are injured or killed on roads that had bike lanes removed, or bike lanes denied from being constructed.

Very Trumpian. Expect more of the same from right-wing politicians and groups in Canada as they feel more emboldened by actions happening south of the border.

Not very progressive nor conservative of Douggie's PCs. More red tape / bureaucracy introduced to hinder something that is beneficial.

Bleh... Well at least we have a ton of other projects still in need of being done, so perhaps those can be prioritized instead. Not easy however as the juggling and budgeting will mess up plans and contracts. Fun fun.

[jammer139]

City considering returning the strip of land on SE corner of Hyde Park and Sunningdale to Foxwood Developments as land is no longer required.

"Since road widening Block 180 was dedicated to the City as public highway, the surplus
land must first be legally closed before it can be transferred back to the applicant, which
is the purpose of this report.
The subject lands are not needed by the City or for public use as the abutting road
allowances of Hyde Park Road and Sunningdale Road West currently reflect the
ultimate widths established by the London Plan. No City services or private utilities will
be affected by the closing."

Long term vision and planning at work. Because nothing could possibly change in the future as the London Plan is perfect in all ways. I imagine our city leaders thought the same thing about Richmond St at the CP tracks when they allowed buildings to be built were they now are back in the late 1800's.




https://pub-london.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=113049

[Snark]

Originally Posted by jammer139

City considering returning the strip of land on SE corner of Hyde Park and Sunningdale to Foxwood Developments as land is no longer required.

Long term vision and planning at work. Because nothing could possibly change in the future as the London Plan is perfect in all ways. I imagine our city leaders thought the same thing about Richmond St at the CP tracks when they allowed buildings to be built were they now are back in the late 1800's.

So, you are criticizing municipal authorities of some 130 years ago for lack of foresight in accommodating a transportation mode that, for all practical purposes, didn't exist and people here would likely have had zero knowledge of such a possibility of it. In doing so they failed to foresee the transportation modes of that day becoming obsolete and be unprepared for its rapid replacement by a technology that they at the time likely couldn't even imagine.

By that logic, perhaps the municipality of today should give back all unused road widening land, and stop physically widening all roads, as in the near future there is a possibility that surface vehicles will be supplanted by flying cars a la Blade Runner, making the current road network obsolete. They may be failing to foresee the risk of current transportation modes of today becoming obsolete, and be unprepared its rapid replacement by a technology we currently likely can't even imagine.

I'm using absurdist logic to try to make a point here: hindsight is always 20/20. Easy to be an armchair quarterback.

[Djeffery]

Originally Posted by Snark

So, you are criticizing municipal authorities of some 130 years ago for lack of foresight in accommodating a transportation mode that, for all practical purposes, didn't exist and people here would likely have had zero knowledge of such a possibility of it. In doing so they failed to foresee the transportation modes of that day becoming obsolete and be unprepared for its rapid replacement by a technology that they at the time likely couldn't even imagine.

By that logic, perhaps the municipality of today should give back all unused road widening land, and stop physically widening all roads, as in the near future there is a possibility that surface vehicles will be supplanted by flying cars a la Blade Runner, making the current road network obsolete. They may be failing to foresee the risk of current transportation modes of today becoming obsolete, and be unprepared its rapid replacement by a technology we currently likely can't even imagine.

I'm using absurdist logic to try to make a point here: hindsight is always 20/20. Easy to be an armchair quarterback.

You mean we shouldn't plan now for the eventual need for a 6 or 8 lane roundabout at that corner? lol

[jammer139]

Upcoming work in 2025.

https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/ready-for-more-roadwork-london-2025-looks-busy

[jammer139]

Dundas and Waterloo intersection to be closed until March 14th for utility work.

https://london.ctvnews.ca/dundas-street-...rsection-closure-begins-monday-1.7172823

[jammer139]

Work is now underway with heavy equipment to build the extension of Gleason St on the north end of the McCormicks property. This will connect McCormick Blvd to Ashland Ave and provide a street for a future row of townhouses apparently and the corner where the new Extendicare LTC is being built.

[jammer139]

LFP article with photos of the Waterloo and Dundas intersection road closure for construction work.

https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/whats-with-the-big-hole-in-the-middle-of-downtown-london

[HuronZephyr]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

the traffic around UWO has become gridlocked twice a day. My 4km drive home used to take 10 minutes; it now takes 30 minutes or more. Cars idling on Western Road....waiting for traffic to move, busses to get moving, students to stop crossing at the wrong moments.

Probably the worst traffic in the city.

Things are going to get much worse in the years to come, as our city leaders decided not to go forward with mass transit in north-west London, the part of the city that is growing much, much faster than the northeast or southeast of London (but which seemingly gets most of the upgrades and recreational facilities).

Once again, the city manages to snatch defeat from what should be the jaws of victory. Why is this city so shambolic?

[jammer139]

County has updated the Glendon Dr project webpage.

Glendon Dr, Vanneck Rd, Coldstream Rd & Jeffries Rd Roundabout, Realignment of Coldstream Rd

The County's first major work on the Glendon Dr reconstruction is the installation of a roundabout at the "5-Corners" intersection in 2024-2025.

The first stage of the project - construction of the roundabout - was completed in mid-November, with the roundabout open to traffic.

Work will recommence in early spring 2025 and will include the realignment of Coldstream Road, construction of sidewalks and pathways, landscaping, and final paving. The County expects that all work should be complete by August 2025.




https://www.middlesexcentre.ca/articles/glendon-drive-improvements

[jammer139]

The potholes on London streets are terrible right now and I haven't seen a single cold patch crew out filling them. Has anyone seen any cold patch repair crews in the last week filling these potholes?

[haljackey]

Originally Posted by jammer139

The potholes on London streets are terrible right now and I haven't seen a single cold patch crew out filling them. Has anyone seen any cold patch repair crews in the last week filling these potholes?

I have, yes. There's a lot to tackle this year with all the freeze/thaws that have been happening. The driving surface on many major roads is getting to crummy condition and need a total resurfacing. I guess we'll see how many get a fresh coat this year when the road construction projects for 2025 is released.

[jammer139]

Section of dundas st just east of old McCormick factory closed for 2 days due to emergency water main repair.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/london/article/portion-of-dundas-street-closed-for-two-days/

[jammer139]

Stretch of Dundas St E gets nod for repaving but will likely mean the future beautification project is put off for longer.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/bu...ection-that-drivers-say-is-bad-1.7462894

Motion letter to move for rehabilitation of stretch of Dundas St E.

https://pub-london.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=114058

Argyle BIA support letter

https://pub-london.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=114057

[CanadianTalk]

Construction will begin in about a week and a half to rehabilitate the Adelaide Street North Bridge, which is located over the Thames River between Windermere Road and Kipps Lane. There will also be pavement rehabilitation along Adelaide from Windermere Road to Kipps Lane.

https://getinvolved.london.ca/adelaidebridge

The project will extend the bridge service life by 30 years. The west sidewalk and west on-road bike lane, will be converted to a two-way multi-use path, which will be part of a new pathway connecting to the Thames Valley Parkway along Windermere Road and Adelaide Street North. Construction on the path started last year.

[jammer139]

Work at Waterloo and Dundas set to wrap up a week early.


https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/work-on-big-hole-in-downtown-london-finishing-ahead-of-schedule

[MolsonExport]

anyone know what is going on for Wharncliffe just south of Western? I picked up pizza yesterday at Pronto's and the road was down to single lanes each way.

[jammer139]

One of our fine London drivers forgot how to navigate a curve in the road and took out the hydro pole.