Port Mann/Highway 1 Improvements | Completed - Page 9

cabotp · #**161** Posted **Sep 8, 2009, 7:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by urbanizer405

I'm amazed that along undivided BC highways that there doesn't seem to be any trace of a crossover accident. I say this because down in the Seattle area on I-5, crews installed cable-median barriers several years ago, but because of several deadly accidents where the barriers failed, crews are going back and replacing the cables with concrete. Talk about a waste of money.

Don't forget that that the amount of traffic in those areas where there is no divider is far less that what is on the I-5. And also the speeds a slower whether due to an enforced speed limit or the design of the road. So yes cross overs do happen. But because there is less traffic your chances of hitting someone else lowers.

Metro-One · #**162** Posted **Sep 8, 2009, 7:44 PM**

Haha, I was thinking the opposite. Between 200th and 152nd there is soooo much traffic squeezed onto 2 lanes each way that traffic rarely gets over 50km an hour, no where near fast enough to cross the median!

DKaz · #**163** Posted **Sep 8, 2009, 7:45 PM**

No kidding, I was on highway 3 on my way to Nelson last winter (completely covered in inches of powder snow) and in an hour of driving I only passed two cars. I could've driven down the wrong way for quite awhile, pretended I was in Japan or something.

Stingray2004 · #**164** Posted **Sep 10, 2009, 7:24 PM**

I fluked out and stumbled across these gems of the new Cape Horn interchange earlier today. Kinda neat!!

Cape Horn interchange schematic:

Cape Horn interchange looking eastward toward new location of Port Mann Bridge: [Cape Horn Bluff on the left, Lougheed Hwy on upper left, MHB in upper middle:

Cape Horn interchange looking westward with Lougheed Hwy directional ramps in the upper middle:

Source: http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?siteID=123112&id=13819573

DKaz · #**165** Posted **Sep 10, 2009, 7:29 PM**

HOLY *completely censored expletive*!!!

*DROOL*

LeftCoaster · #**166** Posted **Sep 10, 2009, 7:54 PM**

I knew it was going to be large with as many flyovers but I did not know it was going to be so vertical.

The engineering nerd in me loves it but the urban planner in me is afraid of it.

cabotp · #**167** Posted **Sep 10, 2009, 7:59 PM**

Wicked find

lightrail · #**168** Posted **Sep 10, 2009, 8:01 PM**

OMG - that is just horrible. A road engineers wet dream maybe - but come on. I can't believe they're spending $3 billion on this sh*t when climate change is such an agenda issue. You've got to be kidding me.

WarrenC12 · #**169** Posted **Sep 10, 2009, 8:01 PM**

LOL I'm buying stock in asphalt companies.

urbanizer405 · #**170** Posted **Sep 10, 2009, 8:03 PM**

Looks pretty much the same as the original concept, but some ramps have been moved to make way for the new collector-distributor ramps. For example, the ramp from EB TCH 1 to EB Lougheed has been moved towards Schoolhouse St. and the old ramp (near where United Blvd makes a curve) has become the ramp to the collector-distributor lanes. And the two-lane high-rise ramp from WB Lougheed to EB TCH 1 separates mid-way so one lane goes to the "express" lanes and the other lane goes to the collector-distributor lanes.

Damn, this thing is going to be huge. Are there going to be any aesthetic additions to the bridges, like Dallas's High-Five interchange?

GeeCee · #**171** Posted **Sep 10, 2009, 8:14 PM**

Metro-One · #**172** Posted **Sep 10, 2009, 8:37 PM**

Stingray2004 you are my hero! I have been waiting to see such renderings for a long time! I knew the changes would be minimal. So nice to see that wewill finally have a true interchange at the heart of our regional road network unlike the current 1960s mess we have right now.

vansky · #**173** Posted **Sep 10, 2009, 8:57 PM**

is this really necessary?...

maybe having more bridges accross the fraser is a more practical option...

Metro-One · #**174** Posted **Sep 10, 2009, 9:01 PM**

People here tend to forget that this is 4 major arteries intersecting at the base of the most important river crossing in our metro-area. The #1, the Lougheed, the Mary Hill bypass & Bullevard. Not to mention this is where the North East, the West and the south all interconnect.

This is the largest hub of our road network.

Actually study where all of the ramps go, it makes sense.

Alex Mackinnon · #**175** Posted **Sep 10, 2009, 9:12 PM**

Wow, thats freaking amazing.

twoNeurons · #**176** Posted **Sep 10, 2009, 9:24 PM**

And still United Blvd is ends at a one-lane bridge. I've heard nothing about finishing this roadway off.

TransitJack · #**177** Posted **Sep 10, 2009, 9:48 PM**

WOW, looks like California. I had no idea this interchange would be so monstrous.

deasine · #**178** Posted **Sep 10, 2009, 9:53 PM**

It is big, but I have to say, it is needed. As Metro-One said, this is an interchange connecting many major arterials. Finally, road infrastructure that doesn't create bottlenecks.

CrazyCommute · #**179** Posted **Sep 10, 2009, 11:34 PM**

Looks great. I love it. 30 years overdue. I can't wait till it's done, although I'm not looking forward to slamming on the brakes when all the bonehead, only-used-to-four-lane-highway drivers slowdown to 40 km/h because they have no idea where to go.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lightrail

OMG - that is just horrible. A road engineers wet dream maybe - but come on. I can't believe they're spending $3 billion on this sh*t when climate change is such an agenda issue. You've got to be kidding me.

With all due respect, this type of attitude is why we've been forced to use a third-world road system for the past 40 years. All we're doing is playing catch up. The infrastructure needed/warranted for a metropolis of 2.3 million had to be updated eventually. Otherwise, may as well live in the Kootenays.

DKaz · #**180** Posted **Sep 10, 2009, 11:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyCommute

Looks great. I love it. 30 years overdue. I can't wait till it's done, although I'm not looking forward to slamming on the brakes when all the bonehead, only-used-to-four-lane-highway drivers slowdown to 40 km/h because they have no idea where to go.

With all due respect, this type of attitude is why we've been forced to use a third-world road system for the past 40 years. All we're doing is playing catch up. The infrastructure needed/warranted for a metropolis of 2.3 million had to be updated eventually. Otherwise, may as well live in the Kootenays.

The highway should be well signed, and there are no crazy crossovers required like on some of the Seattle freeways since all the crossovers are being constructed into the flyovers so there really should be little driver confusion.

Agreed that we need to expand highway capacity as well as make it safer. Roads have their uses no matter what. For example, when I go to hockey I'm not going to take my equipment on transit (anymore), it's difficult for me and disrespectful to my fellow passengers. The toll on the bridge will ensure the minimization of further sprawling out just because the highway capacity is there, but the new bridge/interchange will be much needed relief by those currently using the bridge.