Port Mann/Highway 1 Improvements | Completed - Page 17

Metro-One · #**321** Posted **Sep 29, 2009, 8:09 AM**

It is open now, i just drove it an hour ago.

WarrenC12 · #**322** Posted **Sep 29, 2009, 1:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by allan_kuan

WarrenC12... Vancouver is not a party to this project. It might pass through their boundaries but they never supported it from day one.

We're talking about cities who benefit. Vancouver benefits a lot from Gateway, just like almost every other major project undertaken recently or in the planning stages. (GEB being a notable exception). And well it should, being the jobs engine of the area. The easier it is for people to get to/from work, the better.

What the most recent city council says or the opinions of the NIMBYs on the west side are irrelevant.

The_Henry_Man · #**323** Posted **Sep 29, 2009, 1:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by tybuilding

There is a world outside of Richmond and Vancouver

Quote:

Originally Posted by vansky

there's no big projects for richmond, that's for sure...

and according to some ppl's mentality, they do not see burnaby, surrey and the rest of the region as close to reality...but rather far, distant, only of memory from past travelling experience...to some even of extreme, surrey exists further than toronto...asia, or this planet...

Sometimes I consider Burnaby as the BC's version of Toronto's "Centre of the Universe" mentality.

DKaz · #**324** Posted **Sep 29, 2009, 3:45 PM**

United Blvd was a complete gongshow this morning, backed up both ways. My 791 bus was super late as a result. I'm not sure if United Blvd @ Mary Hill Bypass traffic lights were reprogrammed yet, UB EB to MHB EB right turn light needs to be extended, as well as MHB WB left to UB WB light.

GeeCee · #**325** Posted **Sep 29, 2009, 5:15 PM**

Probably going to be like that for the long term, unfortunately. United Boulevard & Mary Hill Bypass was at capacity during peak periods as is, and dumping all the traffic headed East on the MHB certainly doesn't help matters much. That being said, the new intersection is certainly playing a hand in the short term in causing delays.

cabotp · #**326** Posted **Sep 29, 2009, 10:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DKaz

United Blvd was a complete gongshow this morning, backed up both ways. My 791 bus was super late as a result. I'm not sure if United Blvd @ Mary Hill Bypass traffic lights were reprogrammed yet, UB EB to MHB EB right turn light needs to be extended, as well as MHB WB left to UB WB light.

MHB WB left to UB WB, I don't see a need to extend this light. Only local traffic would make that turn. The majority of MHB WB traffic at UB would either drive straight through onto HWY 1 WB or make the right turn at UB to head EB towards Hwy 7.

Now as for UB EB to MHB EB right turn. In theory because there will be no traffic coming from underneath the Port Mann like it used to. The only traffic that a person who is on UB EB making a right onto MHB EB would be someone who is on UB WB and making a left onto MHB EB. So really even during a red light traffic should stop and go, stop and go, stop and go. And do it quite quickly I might add.

The problem will be the idiots who come to the red light and want to sit there to have a debate with themselves over whether or not they should go or not.

Stingray2004 · #**327** Posted **Sep 29, 2009, 10:38 PM**

As for the new MHB/UB routing, here are some tidbits:

Quote:

Sometimes, temporary roads will be built or existing roads re-lined or reconfigured to steer traffic around construction sites. One example is the access to the Mary Hill Bypass and United Boulevard for drivers coming off the freeway; it requires re-routing and a temporary intersection east of Leeder Avenue.

Quote:

The soil there is soft and could liquefy in an earthquake so stone columns are being driven in to stabilize the ground for new overpass infrastructure and bridge works. Eventually, freeway traffic will exit directly onto the Mary Hill bypass, without the need for an intersection.

Quote:

But the good news is the [entire PMB/Hwy 1] project is already 15% complete

Now that I find hard to believe!

http://www.bclocalnews.com/tri_city_maple_ridge/tricitynews/news/62687862.html

hollywoodnorth · #**328** Posted **Sep 29, 2009, 11:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stingray2004

Now that I find hard to believe!

http://www.bclocalnews.com/tri_city_maple_ridge/tricitynews/news/62687862.html

drive the route and you will see it looks great TONES of progress

DKaz · #**329** Posted **Sep 30, 2009, 2:09 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by cabotp

MHB WB left to UB WB, I don't see a need to extend this light. Only local traffic would make that turn. The majority of MHB WB traffic at UB would either drive straight through onto HWY 1 WB or make the right turn at UB to head EB towards Hwy 7.

Now as for UB EB to MHB EB right turn. In theory because there will be no traffic coming from underneath the Port Mann like it used to. The only traffic that a person who is on UB EB making a right onto MHB EB would be someone who is on UB WB and making a left onto MHB EB. So really even during a red light traffic should stop and go, stop and go, stop and go. And do it quite quickly I might add. .

UB EB to MHB EB needs to be extended because UB EB is now (UB EB and Hwy 1 EB) to MHB EB with the reconfigured offramp. It looks like they just extended the light now so that's good.

MHB WB to UB WB would likely naturally be extended anyway, because UB WB faces delays with the additional light at the Hwy 1 EB to UB EB light.

Old signal:
UB WB...........(XXXXXX............)
UB WB to MHB EB.(—...............)
UB EB...........(...—............)
UB EB to MHB EB.(...XXXXXXXXX......)
Hwy 1 to MHB EB.(............XXXXXX)
MHB WB to Hwy 1.(......XXXXXXXXXXXX)
MHB WB to UB EB.(—...XXXXXXXXXXXX)
MHB WB to UB WB.(......XXXXXX......)

New signal:
UB WB...........(XXXXXX.........)
UB WB to MHB EB.(—............)
UB EB...........(...—.........)
UB EB to MHB EB.(...XXXXXXXXXXXX)
Hwy 1 to MHB EB.(..ELIMINATED...)
MHB WB to Hwy 1.(......XXXXXXXXX)
MHB WB to UB EB.(—...XXXXXXXXX)
MHB WB to UB WB.(......XXXXXXXXX)

cabotp · #**330** Posted **Sep 30, 2009, 4:54 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DKaz

UB EB to MHB EB needs to be extended because UB EB is now (UB EB and Hwy 1 EB) to MHB EB with the reconfigured offramp. It looks like they just extended the light now so that's good.

I can't remember if there is a right turn arrow for that direction. And if there is of course it should be extended. But even if it is red, I see no real reason why people need to stop and wait for it to be green. When the only traffic you will have to contend with is someone making a left off of UB to head EB on MHB.

Quote:

MHB WB to UB WB would likely naturally be extended anyway, because UB WB faces delays with the additional light at the Hwy 1 EB to UB EB light.

I would actually set up the timing like this

Old signal:
UB WB...........(XXXXXX............)
UB WB to MHB EB.(—...............)
UB EB...........(...—............)
UB EB to MHB EB.(...XXXXXXXXX......)
Hwy 1 to MHB EB.(............XXXXXX)
MHB WB to Hwy 1.(......XXXXXXXXXXXX)
MHB WB to UB EB.(—...XXXXXXXXXXXX)
MHB WB to UB WB.(......XXXXXX......)

New signal:
UB WB...........(XXXXXX.........)
UB WB to MHB EB.(—............) See Note 1
UB EB...........(...—.........)
UB EB to MHB EB.(XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX) See note 1
Hwy 1 to MHB EB.(..ELIMINATED...)
MHB WB to Hwy 1.(......XXXXXXXXX)
MHB WB to UB EB.(—...XXXXXXXXX)
MHB WB to UB WB.(......XXXXXXXXX)

Note 1 - This should work because a the person making the left turn should go into the left lane and the person making the right turn should go into the right lane. The only way this screws up is because of idiot drivers.

DKaz · #**331** Posted **Sep 30, 2009, 5:12 AM**

There is a light with a specific no left turn on red sign. There is a bit of traffic on the UB WB left to MHB EB movement. It's a short light so really no big deal.

cabotp · #**332** Posted **Sep 30, 2009, 5:40 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DKaz

There is a light with a specific no left turn on red sign. There is a bit of traffic on the UB WB left to MHB EB movement. It's a short light so really no big deal.

Not sure but I think you mean no right turn on red sign? I'm assuming you are talking about UB EB right turn onto MHB EB?

If so I say take that sign down as it is pointless.

DKaz · #**333** Posted **Sep 30, 2009, 6:25 PM**

Or take out the light altogether and replace it with a yield sign.

cabotp · #**334** Posted **Sep 30, 2009, 6:27 PM**

That would work.

Thankfully this isn't going to be permanent. All three years is going to feel like an eternity.

Metro-One · #**335** Posted **Sep 30, 2009, 6:34 PM**

Today sure felt like an eternity. It took me 45 minutes to go from just past River Road on the MHB to the #1 on ramp, all because of a stalled Semi blocking the right hand westbound lane on the freeway. It broke down just after the MHB merge point onto the #1 and caused a solid traffic jam all the way passed 200th on the freeway and into the industrial park on the MHB. Essentially, because of this truck, 4 lanes of traffic had to merge into 1 during rush hour!!!!!

To me, this project can not be built fast enough, how silly is it that at such an important junction we only have 2 westbound lanes? enabling a single stalled vehicle to essentially stop the entire system.

My average speed this morning ended up being 17km an hour, and that is including when i finally was able to open up on the freeway and drive about 100.

DKaz · #**336** Posted **Sep 30, 2009, 7:10 PM**

Yah my 791 took an hour 10 minutes to get from Pitt Meadows Station to Braid Station when it would normally take 30 to 35 minutes.

Metro-One · #**337** Posted **Sep 30, 2009, 8:12 PM**

Could you imagine if our region ever had a true emergency, such as a major earthquake? If one stalled semi (not even an accident) can cause that much backlog, imagine trying to evacuate a significant portion of our region! (not to mention the age of many of our current bridges). Good thing that the Pitt River and Port Mann are being replaced, next up has to be the Pattullo though.

Hopefully they are 15.1% done now, hehe.

Metro-One · #**338** Posted **Sep 30, 2009, 8:38 PM**

Here is the link to the new homepage for the Port Mann bridge and Highway 1 component of Gateway.

Quote:

http://www.pmh1project.com/inforoom/default.aspx

Stingray2004 · #**339** Posted **Sep 30, 2009, 9:04 PM**

A few interesting tidbits from the September, 2009 project fact sheet:

1. 16 new structures will be constructed or rebuilt at the Cape Horn interchange - no doubt... the mother of all interchanges west of Metro Toronto.

2. The only interchange that will not be replaced will be Brunette - albeit it will have a new EB->NB directional flyover ramp as well as a re-aligned WB off-ramp allowing 8 thru lanes to run under the existing cross-section.

It appears that any future upgrade to a full c/d system will have its eastward limit in proximity to the Cariboo overpass.

http://www.pmh1project.com/inforoom/documents/20090924PMH1ProjectFactSheetFINAL.pdf

BTW, the new detailed designs will be posted this fall sometime.

officedweller · #**340** Posted **Sep 30, 2009, 9:28 PM**

Thanks for the link - looks what's back on the agenda!

Quote:

New special purpose ramps at five locations:
− HOV ramps at Grandview Highway (Vancouver)
− Transit-only ramps at Government Street to connect to the Lougheed Town Centre Station (Burnaby)
− Truck-only ramps to United Boulevard/Pacific Reach (Coquitlam)
− Transit/HOV ramps at 156th Street (Surrey)
− Transit-only ramps at 202nd Street (Langley).