[St. John's] Transport development (Highways, Airport, and Public Transit)

[Offshore1]

Story from the CBC with the CEO of YYT discussing future parking plans, which "may include a garage", as well as changing priorities for various expansion projects. Decision to be made late this year or early 2027.
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.7207093

[Offshore1]

Interesting story I saw on social media first. It's a pilot project in Ontario to add alternating passing lanes to a couple of sections of highway, (2 + 1) less cost presumably than twinning while improving safety. Apparently they're common in parts of Europe. It would definitely improve the TCH in this province. Since twinning is almost as much of a pipe dream as a tunnel to Labrador this should be a viable option.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/northern-ontario/...n-north-americas-first-21-highway-pilot/

https://highway11pilot.ca/about-the-project/

[daniel0001]

Originally Posted by Offshore1

Interesting story I saw on social media first. It's a pilot project in Ontario to add alternating passing lanes to a couple of sections of highway, (2 + 1) less cost presumably than twinning while improving safety. Apparently they're common in parts of Europe. It would definitely improve the TCH in this province. Since twinning is almost as much of a pipe dream as a tunnel to Labrador this should be a viable option.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/northern-ontario/...n-north-americas-first-21-highway-pilot/

https://highway11pilot.ca/about-the-project/

We already have this here all around the island. It just isn't divided by a barrier. It would be a nice upgrade to add a barrier and turnarounds to improve safety if twinning wasn't an option

[Offshore1]

Would seem to be steady progress in the area of the TGH / Brookfield Rd. I happened to drive east on Brookfield Rd. from Mount Pearl and there was fresh pavement leading from to Brookfield towards the roundabout. I didn't notice how far it extends as I was driving. Presumably once that stretch is connected to the roundabout for bypass purposes, they can proceed with the actual crossing of Brookfield with the TGH. There are some barriers in place of course to steer traffic through the area right now. Further along the retaining wall over the precast tunnel entrance to the experimental farm appears close to to topping out.

[Offshore1]

Telegram article with photos and drone video showing the status of work on team Gushue Highway. Speculation in the article about work being completed "early" but no official confirmation. Time will tell.
https://www.saltwire.com/newfoundland-labrador/team-gushue-highway-work-progress

[jjavman]

Originally Posted by Offshore1

Telegram article with photos and drone video showing the status of work on team Gushue Highway. Speculation in the article about work being completed "early" but no official confirmation. Time will tell.
https://www.saltwire.com/newfoundland-labrador/team-gushue-highway-work-progress

I also stopped on Pitts yesterday and snapped a few frames of the Howlett Roundabout, which is also ahead of schedule according to the construction worker I spoke to.

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

[Offshore1]

The province has announced a traffic study for the St. John's / metro area in order to alleviate issues in several areas. I'm not a traffic engineer, but I think most on/off ramps in the area aren't of sufficient length to allow traffic to get in or out of the flow without slowing down. That's one point. The minister in the radio interview mentions others as well, the connection to the ORR to Paradise that the Liberals had promised in the last election and the CBS/Pitts cloverleaf too. We'll see what the study says I suppose. At this point I must say I'll just be happy to have the TGH finished this year. Any other improvements will be a long while coming.

https://vocm.com/2026/06/18/major-pressu...to-be-addressed-transportation-minister/

https://ntv.ca/news/province-launches-st...ve-and-trans-canada-highway-interchange/

[jjavman]

Originally Posted by Offshore1

The province has announced a traffic study for the St. John's / metro area in order to alleviate issues in several areas. I'm not a traffic engineer, but I think most on/off ramps in the area aren't of sufficient length to allow traffic to get in or out of the flow without slowing down. That's one point. The minister in the radio interview mentions others as well, the connection to the ORR to Paradise that the Liberals had promised in the last election and the CBS/Pitts cloverleaf too. We'll see what the study says I suppose. At this point I must say I'll just be happy to have the TGH finished this year. Any other improvements will be a long while coming.

https://vocm.com/2026/06/18/major-pressu...to-be-addressed-transportation-minister/

https://ntv.ca/news/province-launches-st...ve-and-trans-canada-highway-interchange/

From the VOCM report; "He also mentions concerns he has heard about the number of lanes on Peacekeepers Way." DUH

This was done on the cheap, especially when CBS was the fastest growing municipality in NL at the time. Same thing will exist with the 'Galway'esque' roundabouts to terminate the TGH!
No planning ahead for the increasing growth, just reaction when it happens.

The TGH to Pitts roundabout as currently configured, does not even have a dedicated merge lane from TGH to Pitts. The opposite roundabout on the Howlett side does!
Even the single roundabout on Blackmarsh at Redmonds has a dedicated merge lane





Below is the full interchange that was deemed too expensive

[wmemeadusjr]

It is completely WRONG to end a major 4-lane divided highway with roundabouts. This will be trouble.

A proper interchange should have been built. As part of the completion of the highway, I would have gotten rid of the lights at Ruby Line and built proper interchange there as well.

HOWEVER. We know the cost of acquiring the land and building these interchanges as well as how terribly long it takes to build any kind of bridge structure here takes....would have delayed this highway from opening by at least another 5 years.

[jjavman]

Originally Posted by wmemeadusjr

It is completely WRONG to end a major 4-lane divided highway with roundabouts. This will be trouble.

A proper interchange should have been built. As part of the completion of the highway, I would have gotten rid of the lights at Ruby Line and built proper interchange there as well.

HOWEVER. We know the cost of acquiring the land and building these interchanges as well as how terribly long it takes to build any kind of bridge structure here takes....would have delayed this highway from opening by at least another 5 years.

Agree. The exception seemed to be the Topsail Road overpass. That one went up really quickly; probably due to the use of precast girders instead of poured in place construction.

[Offshore1]

An article from VOCM Yesterday where MHA Paul Lane says the Dept. of Transportation is advising him that work is on schedule and that the Commonwealth Avenue section should be reopened by the end of the month. Assume it's just that specific part and not the section connecting Brookfield Rd. to the roundabout , which would presumably have to take place before finishing the road bed & paving the highway itself. It would be nice to get some sort of official word from government on this rather than 2nd hand news.

https://vocm.com/2026/07/15/304302/

[NLResident]

Originally Posted by Offshore1

An article from VOCM Yesterday where MHA Paul Lane says the Dept. of Transportation is advising him that work is on schedule and that the Commonwealth Avenue section should be reopened by the end of the month. Assume it's just that specific part and not the section connecting Brookfield Rd. to the roundabout , which would presumably have to take place before finishing the road bed & paving the highway itself. It would be nice to get some sort of official word from government on this rather than 2nd hand news.

https://vocm.com/2026/07/15/304302/

Another article on Vocm says the new Roundabouts are ready to open this weekend! Fingers crossed

[wmemeadusjr]

The City of St. John's posted the following to their Facebook page:

The City understands that residents are interested in the completion of the Southlands Boulevard extension and the role it will play in connecting Southlands and Galway. Completion of the Southlands Boulevard connection is a requirement within the traffic plans for both the Galway and Southlands developments. The Galway and Southlands developers are responsible for working together to complete the road. The need for this connection was identified as part of the engineering and traffic planning requirements associated with development in Galway and Southlands. There is a present need for this connection to support future growth in Galway due primarily to the volume of traffic generated by the commercial area and the limited access to the residential area. The Southlands development has not yet reached this threshold. At this time, we do not have a construction schedule for the connection but the City continues to advocate for the completion of the road.
With respect to access and safety, Southlands Boulevard currently has sufficient capacity to support existing residential development and provide access to the area's various exit points. It is also important to understand that Southlands is supported by an extensive internal road network with multiple connections to Southlands Boulevard, allowing traffic to move throughout the community rather than relying on a single access point. Once on Southlands Boulevard, residents can access several routes out of the area, including Pitts Memorial Drive, Richard Nolan Drive to Mount Pearl or Ruby Line to Goulds and Robert E Howlett Memorial Drive.
In addition, there is an emergency access connection off Brad Gushue Crescent which connects to Ruby Line and can be used if required. Together, these connections support resident mobility, emergency response and access to and from the community.
It is understandable that last summer's wildfires raised questions about evacuation routes. During that event, the City took proactive measures, including removing barriers at Southland Boulevard, to ensure additional options were available if needed. It is important to note that the Southlands Boulevard extension would not have been used to evacuate Southlands residents as it would be moving them toward an active fire area. Rather, it would have been a potential exit point for the Galway residential area.
Current development in Southlands is supported by the road capacity that has been planned and approved for the area. The City closely monitors growth and transportation needs as development continues. Planned development within Southlands will further improve connectivity by extending the internal road network and creating additional connections by extending Sumac Street to Gold Medal Drive. While the existing road network is sufficient to support the current level of residential development, the City recognizes that continued growth in the area will ultimately require completion of the Southlands Boulevard connection to support future development and maintain an efficient transportation network.
While industrial development in Galway can continue, further commercial and residential development in Galway is limited until transportation requirements, including the Southlands Boulevard connection, are addressed. Commercial development generates significantly more vehicle traffic than residential development, which is why increased road capacity is key to future growth in Galway.
The City continues to work with the parties involved and monitor the situation; however, completion of the roadway ultimately remains the responsibility of the developers.

[Offshore1]

Originally Posted by wmemeadusjr

The City of St. John's posted the following to their Facebook page:

The City understands that residents are interested in the completion of the Southlands Boulevard extension and the role it will play in connecting Southlands and Galway. Completion of the Southlands Boulevard connection is a requirement within the traffic plans for both the Galway and Southlands developments. The Galway and Southlands developers are responsible for working together to complete the road. The need for this connection was identified as part of the engineering and traffic planning requirements associated with development in Galway and Southlands. There is a present need for this connection to support future growth in Galway due primarily to the volume of traffic generated by the commercial area and the limited access to the residential area. The Southlands development has not yet reached this threshold. At this time, we do not have a construction schedule for the connection but the City continues to advocate for the completion of the road.
With respect to access and safety, Southlands Boulevard currently has sufficient capacity to support existing residential development and provide access to the area's various exit points. It is also important to understand that Southlands is supported by an extensive internal road network with multiple connections to Southlands Boulevard, allowing traffic to move throughout the community rather than relying on a single access point. Once on Southlands Boulevard, residents can access several routes out of the area, including Pitts Memorial Drive, Richard Nolan Drive to Mount Pearl or Ruby Line to Goulds and Robert E Howlett Memorial Drive.
In addition, there is an emergency access connection off Brad Gushue Crescent which connects to Ruby Line and can be used if required. Together, these connections support resident mobility, emergency response and access to and from the community.
It is understandable that last summer's wildfires raised questions about evacuation routes. During that event, the City took proactive measures, including removing barriers at Southland Boulevard, to ensure additional options were available if needed. It is important to note that the Southlands Boulevard extension would not have been used to evacuate Southlands residents as it would be moving them toward an active fire area. Rather, it would have been a potential exit point for the Galway residential area.
Current development in Southlands is supported by the road capacity that has been planned and approved for the area. The City closely monitors growth and transportation needs as development continues. Planned development within Southlands will further improve connectivity by extending the internal road network and creating additional connections by extending Sumac Street to Gold Medal Drive. While the existing road network is sufficient to support the current level of residential development, the City recognizes that continued growth in the area will ultimately require completion of the Southlands Boulevard connection to support future development and maintain an efficient transportation network.
While industrial development in Galway can continue, further commercial and residential development in Galway is limited until transportation requirements, including the Southlands Boulevard connection, are addressed. Commercial development generates significantly more vehicle traffic than residential development, which is why increased road capacity is key to future growth in Galway.
The City continues to work with the parties involved and monitor the situation; however, completion of the roadway ultimately remains the responsibility of the developers.

All I can say to the above from the City is get it together, show some leadership in the Bunker rather than pawn this off on the developers. What a load...

[Horsell]

Originally Posted by Offshore1

All I can say to the above from the City is get it together, show some leadership in the Bunker rather than pawn this off on the developers. What a load...

100% !!! Sit down with both parties and come up with a solution, even if it means the City has to do the project now and recover the cost later. There always seems to be money for shared use paths and other things.

[jjavman]

Originally Posted by Offshore1

An article from VOCM Yesterday where MHA Paul Lane says the Dept. of Transportation is advising him that work is on schedule and that the Commonwealth Avenue section should be reopened by the end of the month. Assume it's just that specific part and not the section connecting Brookfield Rd. to the roundabout , which would presumably have to take place before finishing the road bed & paving the highway itself. It would be nice to get some sort of official word from government on this rather than 2nd hand news.

https://vocm.com/2026/07/15/304302/

How's that July31st opening going?

[NLResident]

Originally Posted by jjavman

How's that July31st opening going?

They did say if the weather doesn't cooperate, they can't do any painting on the road.

[Offshore1]

Previously announced construction to get going on Kelsey Dr.

https://vocm.com/2026/08/04/construction-begins-today-on-kelsey-drive-thorburn-road/

[wmemeadusjr]

Originally Posted by Offshore1

Previously announced construction to get going on Kelsey Dr.

https://vocm.com/2026/08/04/construction-begins-today-on-kelsey-drive-thorburn-road/

Money for this expensive project was funded by a $2.43 million investment from the Government of Canada Build Communities Strong Fund. I think this money could have been better spent on finishing Southlands Boulevard.

[jjavman]

For those with Facebook accounts,
there is a post showing the new signage at the approaches to the new
TGH/Howlett roundabouts.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1D7crrNnih/