Ontario Highways

[sonysnob]

I was disappointed by Hwy 61 in Minnesota when I drove it. I was hoping for the dramatic scenery of Hwy 17 along the northshore of Lake Superior, and it is not that. It's certainly a pleasant enough drive, but not really that notable. The tunnels are cool though. Though the the hills that the tunnels punch through don't actually seem that significant.

I really like Hwy 17 along Lake Superior. I have driven it a bunch of times over the years, and it does it for me every time. I really like roads that are both scenic and fast. Although invariably you spend some time behind a truck or an RV while driving 17, passing lanes are frequent enough, and you can average at a good speed while enjoying the views.

I really like Duluth though. The northernmost section of I-35 is a neat drive. And Downtown Duluth is interesting in itself.

I really like the twin cities as well. I have visited MSP a few times. They're pretty far away, but worth the drive in my opinion.

[haljackey]

Originally Posted by sonysnob

I was disappointed by Hwy 61 in Minnesota when I drove it. I was hoping for the dramatic scenery of Hwy 17 along the northshore of Lake Superior, and it is not that. It's certainly a pleasant enough drive, but not really that notable. The tunnels are cool though. Though the the hills that the tunnels punch through don't actually seem that significant.

I really like Hwy 17 along Lake Superior. I have driven it a bunch of times over the years, and it does it for me every time. I really like roads that are both scenic and fast. Although invariably you spend some time behind a truck or an RV while driving 17, passing lanes are frequent enough, and you can average at a good speed while enjoying the views.

Driving on the Labour Day weekend the amount of RVs and caravans were high. It was a slow go on the way back. OPP was also out in force for the long weekend and I saw those ahead of me in a 'convoy' speed up to pass them, and then pulled over by cops a few km down the road.

I-75 was even worse in terms of motor homes- 1 in every 10 vehicles seemed to be one so I guess it's a bigger deal in the USA. Despite having a passing lane (freeway) it was slow and long queues waiting for RVs or pickup trucks towing a trailer to pass one another.

[sonysnob]

Hwy 400 looking south from the Llyodtown-Aurora Road interchange:


https://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_400_images/400_cl_DSC09730.jpg

[sonysnob]

The Queen Elizabeth Way looking towards Fort Erie from the Seventh Street Louth overpass near St. Catharines:


https://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/QEW_images/QEW_cl_51_FEB_FEB_Sep25_42x28.jpg

[haljackey]

• Video Link

[SteelTown]

‘It’s only fair’: Premier Doug Ford says he’ll consider takeover of Hamilton’s parkways

https://www.thespec.com/politics/provinc...41a9100-b61d-556f-8980-1213d334d54a.html

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he’ll consider a provincial takeover of Hamilton’s parkways during a news conference Monday.

Premier Doug Ford says the province will “seriously consider” a request to take over Hamilton’s busy and occasionally scandal-plagued municipal parkways.

Mayor Andrea Horwath first announced plans to pitch a provincial “upload” of responsibility for the Lincoln Alexander and Red Hill Valley parkways in late 2023. That pitch came shortly after the city received the results of a $28-million judicial inquiry into a slippery asphalt mystery on the Red Hill.

[Djeffery]

Good, and make them 110 as well lol

[Dengler Avenue]

^ The geometric design of those 2 parkways might not allow for that. Even 100 kph might be a lot to ask for.

[haljackey]

I could see the Linc getting a bump to 100, Red Hill to 90.

Basically 10km/h faster for both.

Linc could use widening now, as well as the 403 between the Linc and Highway 6 so you have double lane ramps to and from it.

[sonysnob]

View looking northerly along Highway 416 towards the Highway 417 interchange from the Richmond Road overpass:


https://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_410-427_images/416_cl_75_north_SB_Sep25_42x28.jpg

[sonysnob]

View of the interchange between Hwys 407 and 412 in Whitby:


https://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_407-409_images/407_cl_112_west_ramp_Oct25_night_42x28.jpg

[Innsertnamehere]

the southbound HOV lane on the 400 has now opened from Highway 9 down to King Rd. I imagine the northbound lane will open any day.

[F. Lionel]

Both stretches of 11/17 currently being twinned between Nipigon and Thunder Bay have been opened to east-west traffic.

There is still surfacing work being done in the East bound lanes of both projects but that should be completed in the next 2-3 weeks.

Sadly - no additional stretches of twinning have been announced for construction beginning next year. 3 of the 4 remaining stretches are in detail design phase right now. According to the person involved in the projects all three could conceivably be completed by the fall of 2030 with the current two companies completing their current construction projects.

[Ozabald]

Originally Posted by F. Lionel

Both stretches of 11/17 currently being twinned between Nipigon and Thunder Bay have been opened to east-west traffic.

There is still surfacing work being done in the East bound lanes of both projects but that should be completed in the next 2-3 weeks.

Sadly - no additional stretches of twinning have been announced for construction beginning next year. 3 of the 4 remaining stretches are in detail design phase right now. According to the person involved in the projects all three could conceivably be completed by the fall of 2030 with the current two companies completing their current construction projects.

Have there been any further announcements on the ON-17 twining project between Kenora and the Manitoba border? There was an announcement in the summer that preliminary work (ie: clearing) would start for Phase 2 this Fall.

[BorealLynx]

Originally Posted by Ozabald

Have there been any further announcements on the ON-17 twining project between Kenora and the Manitoba border? There was an announcement in the summer that preliminary work (ie: clearing) would start for Phase 2 this Fall.

https://4lanehighway17kenora.ca/

This project is moving painfully slowly. Given that they are still in the environmental assessment phase, I'd be surprised if there was any activity at all this year.

[905er]

Noticing a lot more garbage lining the 400 series highways in and around the GTA. Wondering if anyone in any other province is noticing such degradation on their roadways or is this strictly an Ontario/GTA phenomenon? It's a shame.. Canada never used to be this filthy.. but since the pandemic all I see is garbage and weeds lining the highways. It's pretty disgraceful what Canada is becoming.

Anyone else noticing this happening.. trash along the roads.. offramps..literally everywhere. Where are all the street sweepers?.. what am I paying such high taxes for?

We have fallen... big time.

[Loco101]

Originally Posted by 905er

Noticing a lot more garbage lining the 400 series highways in and around the GTA. Wondering if anyone in any other province is noticing such degradation on their roadways or is this strictly an Ontario/GTA phenomenon? It's a shame.. Canada never used to be this filthy.. but since the pandemic all I see is garbage and weeds lining the highways. It's pretty disgraceful what Canada is becoming.

Anyone else noticing this happening.. trash along the roads.. offramps..literally everywhere. Where are all the street sweepers?.. what am I paying such high taxes for?

We have fallen... big time.

Haven't noticed any difference in Northeastern Ontario. There have always been those here who throw garbage wherever.

I am going to Toronto soon and will see if I notice any more garbage on the 400 series highway compared to before. I definitely have noticed a LOT more garbage on freeways in many American cities.

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by Loco101

There have always been those here who throw garbage wherever.

It's unfortunate that people who don't care can be such slobs.

[Horus]

Very good possibility that I could be making a cross-country drive from Calgary to Ottawa in November. Have never done that before and it's been something I've always wanted to do.

Having never experienced either route, I thought I'd throw out to the forum here for recommendations about taking 11 or 17 across Ontario. Weather might dictate my choice, but all things being equal, which would be a more enjoyable drive?

[Dengler Avenue]

It depends on what you enjoy.
Scenery is superb on 17 from Nipigon to SSM, but this stretch has many 6% ~ 7% grades (sometimes 8%) between Nipigon and Marathon then from Wawa to SSM. They can be treacherous during winter (especially that 7% long hill followed by a sharp curve at Montreal River Harbour, where people have actually died). I highly recommend winter tires and keeping your car on lower gear on that stretch. Also climbing lanes may be non-existent during winter months because they become snow storage area.

For Highway 11, the difficult stretches are from Lake Helen (Nipigon) to Beardmore, then from Tri-town (Timiskaming Shores) to North Bay. Around Temgami, some drivers might cheat on the curves so beware. Then also be careful with that 6% downhill to a traffic light in North Bay.