London Roads

[CanadianTalk]

The new traffic lights at Westdel Bourne and Longwoods Road have been turned on by the city this week...

https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/months-after-boys-death-traffic-lights-installed-near-lambeth

[jammer139]

Long overdue.

Originally Posted by CanadianTalk

The new traffic lights at Westdel Bourne and Longwoods Road have been turned on by the city this week...

https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/months-after-boys-death-traffic-lights-installed-near-lambeth

[Djeffery]

Took a few drone shots today before visiting my dad for fathers day. Update to Highbury south of Oxford.

[CanadianTalk]

Adelaide Street Bridge Construction Update (from the City)

Starting today (June 16), the City of London will begin the next phase of rehabilitation work on the Adelaide Street bridge over York Street and CN Rail, continuing repairs that began in 2024.

This phase includes:
• Expansion joint replacement
• Asphalt milling & paving between King St and Hamilton Rd

Work is expected to be completed by August 29, 2025. Please plan ahead for delays and changes to access.

[MrSlippery519]

Originally Posted by jammer139

Long overdue.

I mean sort of yes, but it is also implemented so poorly. A lot of the added traffic on Westdel the past few months was due to Col Talbot being shut down, that has now eased up significantly but is still a factor and was an unsafe situation.

I have no issue with the light being there, but why not install it with some proper lanes to actually move cars properly. Unless it is not finished yet I do not understand why there is no left turn lane heading west on Longwoods, also why is there no right turn lane while heading east on Longwoods? There also likely should be a left turn lane onto Longwoods from Westdel to help the flow.

Effectively they have made this intersection safer for people turning left onto Longwoods from Westdel, but have made it much more inefficient at busy times of day. Heading west on Longwoods at 5pm you have a lineup of stopped cars with only one lane to navigate.

[CanadianTalk]

Originally Posted by MrSlippery519

I mean sort of yes, but it is also implemented so poorly. A lot of the added traffic on Westdel the past few months was due to Col Talbot being shut down, that has now eased up significantly but is still a factor and was an unsafe situation.

I have no issue with the light being there, but why not install it with some proper lanes to actually move cars properly. Unless it is not finished yet I do not understand why there is no left turn lane heading west on Longwoods, also why is there no right turn lane while heading east on Longwoods? There also likely should be a left turn lane onto Longwoods from Westdel to help the flow.

Effectively they have made this intersection safer for people turning left onto Longwoods from Westdel, but have made it much more inefficient at busy times of day. Heading west on Longwoods at 5pm you have a lineup of stopped cars with only one lane to navigate.

Yes I was a bit curious about the set up as well, given that the new lights were installed on wires, and we usually only see that in a temporary context.

You may recall the transportation plan process (Mobility Master Plan) that the City recently completed which identifies key road projects for the next 25 years. An "intersection improvement" project is scheduled at Westdel and Longwoods sometime in the medium-term... examples of these intersection projects can include roundabouts, road widening, new turn lanes, etc.... the exact design is not usually finalized until a year or 2 before construction begins.

However, given the increase in traffic volumes and collisions at the intersection according to the press release from the city, it's obvious that something needs to be done in the interim before the intersection project....

https://london.ca/newsroom/public-servic...now-active-longwoods-road-westdel-bourne

[Djeffery]

Originally Posted by MrSlippery519

Unless it is not finished yet I do not understand why there is no left turn lane heading west on Longwoods, also why is there no right turn lane while heading east on Longwoods? There also likely should be a left turn lane onto Longwoods from Westdel to help the flow.

Effectively they have made this intersection safer for people turning left onto Longwoods from Westdel, but have made it much more inefficient at busy times of day. Heading west on Longwoods at 5pm you have a lineup of stopped cars with only one lane to navigate.

What's the configuration there now? Is there really that much volume of people going south from Longwoods that there needs to be lanes for them? I would think a right lane going west to north and a left lane going east to north. I thought people turning left from Westdel to Longwoods was the whole point of putting lights in here? I'm never down there at 5pm so I'm not aware of what the traffic is like but I just never really thought there was many people going south on Westdel from Longwoods.

I would definitely be in favour of a roundabout at this intersection though.

[MrSlippery519]

Originally Posted by Djeffery

What's the configuration there now? Is there really that much volume of people going south from Longwoods that there needs to be lanes for them? I would think a right lane going west to north and a left lane going east to north. I thought people turning left from Westdel to Longwoods was the whole point of putting lights in here? I'm never down there at 5pm so I'm not aware of what the traffic is like but I just never really thought there was many people going south on Westdel from Longwoods.

I would definitely be in favour of a roundabout at this intersection though.

Agreed on a roundabout, given the difference in directional traffic volume time of day dependant this would be a perfect spot. The could also re-align the road a bit I am sure if needed.

The majority of volume at 5-6pm anyways are people going south on Westdel turning onto Longwoods (most turning left back into the city/Lambeth area) and then people travelling west on Longwoods leaving the city. Especially when Col Talbot was closed this was the way everyone was taking, at 6pm if you wanted to turn left onto Longwoods you would be sitting there waiting 10-15 minutes easily.

I have only went home this way 3 times now, each day is 2-3 lights dead stopped on Longwoods as the traffic all backs up travelling west out of the city. Found it interesting, my car automatically has directions "home" each night and while I rarely pay attention last night it advised I should avoid Lambeth, turning onto Bostwick then onto Pack Road to Deadmans road to Westdel instead to avoid this new intersection.

Just feels like it was a half assed job by the city, while it addressed a real problem it also created quite a few more with traffic flow.

[jammer139]

Hey lets close Wellington and York again and dig it up once more because we can't plan.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/ro...ng-and-york-starting-wednesday-1.7573021

[CanadianTalk]

The City is planning to introduce a roundabout at the Hamilton Road/Old Victoria Road and Commissioners Road East intersection. The project will add above ground improvements, including cycle tracks and sidewalk, pedestrian crossings, landscaping, and streetlighting, while implementing underground infrastructure improvements.

Stay tuned for details on the upcoming Public Update Meeting.

https://getinvolved.london.ca/hamilton-commissioners-roundabout

---

Here is a presentation from the agenda of the next meeting of the Accessibility Community Advisory Committee.... it looks like construction will start next year.

https://pub-london.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=117635

They are currently 50% done the detailed design phase... here is a concept rendering, noting that it will be finalized at the end of the year.

[jammer139]

Dundas St E resurfacing to start beginning Monday, Dundas Street between Burdick Place and Beatrice Street will have reduced lanes in each direction while the road is reconstructed.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/london/article/it...n-set-to-begin-on-dundas-through-argyle/

They gave up on the total rebuild originally planned and will redo the road surface only.

[jammer139]

Road closures to start today.

Florence Street between Eleanor Street and Ashland Street and a section of Eleanor Street between Florence Street and Frances Street will be closed.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/london/article/two-road-closures-in-south-london-lasting-until-fall/

[jammer139]

You gotta be kidding!

https://www.ctvnews.ca/london/article/city-truck-hits-notorious-talbot-st-bridge/

[MolsonExport]

jezus.

[Djeffery]

That shows that the safety beam is lower than the bridge, if it was the proper height, there would have been no problem.

[haljackey]

What's specifically bad with low underpasses in Canada is that we list the clearance height in metric, but when you rent your truck or whatever they're listed in imperial most of the time (up to the company). Folks either calculate incorrectly or not at all and then, bam!

Speaking of underpasses, I was driving on Adelaide recently and there was a stopped freight train where the CP line crosses it. So happy we can now zip under that line now. Felt vindicating.

[jammer139]

Totally understandable given the bridge must be protected and the safety beams are there for exactly that purpose. The Talbot bridge should get a new meal in a few short weeks with the arrival of students and their moving trucks. Fine dining.

Looks like Ottawa is getting one of their low CN bridges replaced. Lucky them.
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6841142

Originally Posted by Djeffery

That shows that the safety beam is lower than the bridge, if it was the proper height, there would have been no problem.

[Djeffery]

Originally Posted by haljackey

What's specifically bad with low underpasses in Canada is that we list the clearance height in metric, but when you rent your truck or whatever they're listed in imperial most of the time (up to the company). Folks either calculate incorrectly or not at all and then, bam!

Speaking of underpasses, I was driving on Adelaide recently and there was a stopped freight train where the CP line crosses it. So happy we can now zip under that line now. Felt vindicating.

Every truck I have driven since I got my AZ 35 years ago lists metric always and sometimes imperial with it. It's also interesting that some of the underpasses have incorrect heights showing. Richmond St is a posted truck route with a posted height of 4.0m, which is lower than a standard height trailer (4.11m or 13ft 6 inches). I have in the past taken a 53 footer under there but not since the 90's and I intentionally take a level crossing route now just to be safe.

Truck height just isn't typically a consideration for most of the Uhaul crowd. I would like to know if the city truck yesterday had a height sticker on it and what it said. I wouldn't be surprised if it showed a safe height to go that way and that the machinery on the back either wasn't stowed properly or perhaps bounced on a bump in the road and snagged that safety beam after they had already passed safely under the bridge.

[Djeffery]

Originally Posted by jammer139

Totally understandable given the bridge must be protected and the safety beams are there for exactly that purpose. The Talbot bridge should get a new meal in a few short weeks with the arrival of students and their moving trucks. Fine dining.

Looks like Ottawa is getting on of their low CN bridges replaced. Lucky them.
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6841142

Of note though, the truck cleared the beam on the south side of the bridge, and also cleared the bridge itself, but caught the beam on the north side of the bridge after already safely going under.

[Djeffery]

Just copied this off the city's FB page regarding the Oxford and Highbury area. This will be fun

Big traffic changes are coming to Highbury & Oxford! 🚧
Starting Thursday, July 24, traffic on Highbury Avenue will shift from the east side to the west side.
Then, on Tuesday, August 5, traffic on Oxford Street East will move from the south side to the north side, and Highbury traffic will switch from west to east through the construction zone.
Access to Oxbury Mall will be limited to Mornington Avenue for about two weeks, and no left turns will be allowed at Oxford & Highbury during this phase.