Port Mann/Highway 1 Improvements | Completed

[ClearDop]

Sorry but I can't get over the barriers being used on this project. They just look so.... temporary. Not to mention the fact that they don't look like they'd be able to withstand a crash into them. Interlocking ones like that will just break apart...

[Zassk]

Originally Posted by ClearDop

Sorry but I can't get over the barriers being used on this project. They just look so.... temporary. Not to mention the fact that they don't look like they'd be able to withstand a crash into them. Interlocking ones like that will just break apart...

I'm not sure why you are hung up on the barriers. All of the existing barriers along Hwy 1, 99, 91, Sea to Sky, 7, 5, 3, 17, 19, 97C are all made of the same removable barriers. The only ones that are poured in place in B.C. are those on bridges (and even then, generally the center median barrier is removable).

I agree that it doesn't look as nice as in other provinces/states, but there's nothing new about this - it's been this way in B.C. for 30+ years.

[Stingray2004]

Speaking of speed limits, here's a pic of Hwy 99 south of the GM Tunnel circa 1965 when the posted limit was 70 mph (112 km/hr) during an era of gravel shoulders and land yachts:



Source: City of Surrey

[Mininari]

Nice find!

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by ClearDop

Sorry but I can't get over the barriers being used on this project. They just look so.... temporary. Not to mention the fact that they don't look like they'd be able to withstand a crash into them. Interlocking ones like that will just break apart...

Yeah, but they can also be moved if necessary to access the other side of the highway.

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by ClearDop

Sorry but I can't get over the barriers being used on this project. They just look so.... temporary. Not to mention the fact that they don't look like they'd be able to withstand a crash into them. Interlocking ones like that will just break apart...

The barriers are designed to withstand very considerable impact, and they do lock together via a hook-and-eye system at each end. They're standard equipment on highways all over the continent - don't loose any sleep over it!

[Smooth]

Originally Posted by ClearDop

Sorry but I can't get over the barriers being used on this project. They just look so.... temporary. Not to mention the fact that they don't look like they'd be able to withstand a crash into them. Interlocking ones like that will just break apart...

I was just driving along Hwy 1 through the Cassiar Tunnel and you'll be glad to know that they're installing permanent cast-in-place concrete barriers south of the tunnel.

[SpongeG]

just some pics - by me - the west end of the port mann bridge

[ClearDop]

Originally Posted by aberdeen5698

The barriers are designed to withstand very considerable impact, and they do lock together via a hook-and-eye system at each end. They're standard equipment on highways all over the continent - don't loose any sleep over it!

I've never seen the same ugly barriers used in BC anywhere else... The 2 holes and the overall crappy design is a BC exclusive

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by ClearDop

I've never seen the same ugly barriers used in BC anywhere else... The 2 holes and the overall crappy design is a BC exclusive

There may be cosmetic differences, but the same fundamental design is used all over Canada and the US. The holes have no bearing on the safety characteristics of the barrier. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jersey_barrier

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by jhausner

? It's not known as the 401 in Eastern Canada. The 401 isn't part of the Trans-Canada Highway at all.

Not to mention the Trans-Canada is Hwy 1 in Alberta and Manitoba also along with BC. East of Winnipeg it changes designations through Hwy 7,11,12,17,69,72,115,400 and 417. From Ottawa to Moncton it is Hwy 417. From Moncton to Sydney it is Route 2 and 17. Nova Scotia it is Hwy 102 for a large part and then 106. The Trans-Canada doesn't actually go to Toronto contrary to what Torontonians think.

So really the only place where it has a steady designation is in the West between BC, Alberta, and Manitoba. I'd rather it say Hwy 1 imo. The 401 isn't even considered part of the Trans-Canada officially and is simply a link highway.

Thank you for the clarification. It's rather "The Highway of Many Numbers." I stand corrected. Highway One it should be.

[s211]

Originally Posted by aberdeen5698

There may be cosmetic differences, but the same fundamental design is used all over Canada and the US. The holes have no bearing on the safety characteristics of the barrier. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jersey_barrier

Nothin' like a little edumication!

[Mininari]

I've just been looking at the two Abbotsford interchange rebuild websites (McCallum and Clearbrook Roads). I have to say, the designs look very simple, and I love the round-abouts removing the need for loop-ramps and traffic signals.

However, this begs the question of if the Ministry has a timeline in mind for 6-laning to Abbotsford. That would undoubtedly require upgrades at 232nd and 264th, Glover Road overpass, and replacement of the rail overpass.
An expensive "next phase," but one must expect that it is coming.

However, I am well aware of talk of an H-99 project in the medium-long term.
However, if anger over the HST looms until next election, I highly doubt the NDP would proceed with an H-99 project.
Lots of time for voter-memory to be purged though

[go_leafs_go02]

Originally Posted by Mininari

I've just been looking at the two Abbotsford interchange rebuild websites (McCallum and Clearbrook Roads). I have to say, the designs look very simple, and I love the round-abouts removing the need for loop-ramps and traffic signals.

However, this begs the question of if the Ministry has a timeline in mind for 6-laning to Abbotsford. That would undoubtedly require upgrades at 232nd and 264th, Glover Road overpass, and replacement of the rail overpass.
An expensive "next phase," but one must expect that it is coming.

However, I am well aware of talk of an H-99 project in the medium-long term.
However, if anger over the HST looms until next election, I highly doubt the NDP would proceed with an H-99 project.
Lots of time for voter-memory to be purged though

Those interchanges are decent, although I'm not happy with them - particularily the fact that they are only permitting room for 6 lanes total. Highway 1 easily should be 6-8 lanes already through to Abbotsford (3 + 1 HOV is my preference). I also would argue that a WB to NB slip ramp at Clearbrook would have been a good idea - it just seems like the MOT builds around everything. Look at the gongshow 200 Avenue interchange will be in the future - can't believe they're developing WITHIN the interchange ramps. That interchange already has so much wrong with it, and I can't imagine when in 10 - 15 years that place is just as bad as it was beforehand. Awful awful planning.

I'm pretty sure we'll see a Highway 1 widening announced with the completion of Gateway. It's not really that complex. A few new overpasses will be needed (Glover Road - 232 Street, 264 Street - Peardonville) (that's only 4).

There's an overpass over Bradner Road which actually for some reason was built back in the day with room for 3 lanes. See here: http://maps.google.ca/?ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear...z4pu4Bf13Uy7gnwnQ&cbp=12,104.35,,0,18.04.
It also wouldn't be too difficult to extend the piers and widen the bridge deck here if necessary I would think.

My quick and easy wishlist for Highway #1 right now with a small budget.

1) Ramp Meters at 200 Avenue, 232 Street, Mt. Lehman/Fraser Highway for EB & WB merging onto to freeway. (Particularily 232 Street EB) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramp_meter
2) Longer Merge Lanes at all interchanges.
3) Climbing Lane on EB 232 Street to 248 Street - identical to WB HWY 1 at Mt. Lehman Climbing Lane
4) Enforcement of rat-running at 232 Street & 264 Street interchanges when drivers use the offramp to bypass congestion and re-merge on the onramp.

That's my rant for today. Although I see the joke with the new Highway 99 bus lanes from King George through Delta, I'm sure a half-assed improvement will be done here too, in tiny piece-meal segments. Ahhh, the good old MOT in BC.

BTW: looking on wikipedia - how the heck does this get built on the island in the middle of nowhere while Metro Vancouver / Fraser Valley always gets the short end of the stick for Highway design and decent construction?

[twoNeurons]

Originally Posted by s211

Nothin' like a little edumication!

It's edumacation, silly.

[BCPhil]

Originally Posted by go_leafs_go02

BTW: looking on wikipedia - how the heck does this get built on the island in the middle of nowhere while Metro Vancouver / Fraser Valley always gets the short end of the stick for Highway design and decent construction?

Well, just a couple KM down the highway there's a light at Horn Lake, so while that interchange is great, they cut a lot of corners elsewhere. Don't even get me started on the pain in the — it is to go through Nanoose, and then there's not a single interchange along the Nanaimo bypass where it is really needed. I don't see how they spent over a billion on that highway project. And it replaced a horribly slow road through Coombs and at the interchange there's nothing near it, so land acquisition wasn't an issue. It's actually a fairly busy interchange as at least 30% of highway 19 traffic gets onto highway 4 there bound for P.dot. So if there was a light there it would cycle a lot and all traffic on the highway would have to stop at it, it would be an inescapable light and pretty dangerous with the speed in the area.

[Stingray2004]

Originally Posted by go_leafs_go02

Although I see the joke with the new Highway 99 bus lanes from King George through Delta, I'm sure a half-assed improvement will be done here too, in tiny piece-meal segments. Ahhh, the good old MOT in BC.

The entire bus lane development on both sides of Hwy 99 from Cambie Rd. south to the KG Hwy (now Blvd) is certainly a complete joke and done on a nickel and dime budget.

Even the expanded rail overpass just south of Cambie Rd. is laughable - there is absolutely NO shoulder - whatsoever.

And the remainig bus lanes will also apparently not have any paved right-side shoulder for emergency stopping. Certainly a head shaker. When the H99 project comes about (whenever that will be), they can at least utilize the exisiting gravel base.

[Mininari]

To make life more efficient, the bus lane will double as the shoulder.

[go_leafs_go02]

Originally Posted by Mininari

To make life more efficient, the bus lane will double as the shoulder.

But what's the point? I don't routinely drive on that section, but I don't really ever hear of problems on that segment of roadway (until you hit the Massey Tunnel)

Does the bus travel fine already on Highway 99? There's already an HOV/Bus Queue Jump at NB (HWY 17). I don't see the need for that segment to have a bus lane installed, when probably it would be better served to widen simply to 6 total lanes, and invest that money in a place where it is needed (like 72 Avenue & HWY 91 traffic-freeway signal joke). Or put towards an interchange where capacity and congestion occur.

Waste of money. Really, it is. - and aren't shoulders supposed to be wide enough on a freeway already to accommodate a lane of traffic if need be? If it is, you just need some paint and restriping.

[Mininari]

I agree with you completely on this... I'd rather see a proper modernization of H99, than piece-meal improvements. Heck, where are those piecemeal improvements to the Cape horn Interchange now?