London Roads

[MolsonExport]

It's gone:

http://www.lfpress.com/news/london/2011/03/31/17826101.html

The Sarnia Road bridge is on the move.

The CP rail bridge was been lifted off its foundations over the CP Rail line between Hyde Park Road and Wonderland Road Thursday.

The 50,000 lb., steel-truss, one-lane bridge, in place since 1909, was lifted out of the way by crane.

The new railway crossing is expected to be finished in the fall.

The one-lane bridge was blamed for frequent bottlenecks.

[MrSlippery519]

Great news, that was fast. Anyone know when this is supposed to be completed?

[Wharn]

THIS JUST IN

Michael Ignatieff, in a bid for the London vote, announced the federal government would provide 1/3 the funding required for the "L-Train" light rail system, unveiled today. "London has been ignored for too long and has suffered from chronic under-investment", he said. "Our plan would see the transportation infrastructure for this city updated to 21st-century standards."

Stephen Harper has remained largely silent, however he hinted that if a Conservative government was elected with at least two seats in London, the federal government would increase funding to cover 1/2 of the project, and would also extend federal money for the London Ring Road (LRR). "It should not take 50 minutes to get across a city the size of London", he said. "A Conservative Government would like to cut that time so that businesses and workers can move swiftly and efficiently".

Bloq Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe complained "London gets a lot of Federal money already. They already have six ring roads and twenty underground highways. They already have light rail trains on grand, sweeping rails that remain suspended in the sky by use of force field. Meanwhile Montreal is crumbling. Why does the government slap Quebecers in the face like this?"

[MolsonExport]

^the third paragraph is entirely believeable

[Pimpmasterdac]

http://www.atv.ca/london/news_75818.aspx
....
Even the A Channel is reporting about the shittiness of Southdale and its delay yet another year! Traffic is beyond nutty on there, even at 7:30 its been backed up all the way. My personal pet peeve is LTC buses clogging up the entire road, while driving at a breakneck 30 km/h!

I still don't understand the cities logic in waiting longer to expropriate land voluntarily. Just tell these people tough titty, we need this land to widen the road, here's your check, end of story.

[Simpseatles]

Is the city going ahead with the Bradley extension this year? Because although Southdale definitely needs to be widened, it could help to alleviate some of the congestion and that might be their logic.

[haljackey]

I can tell you that the guy in that report who said it takes 15 mins to take a left turn on Southdale at rush hour is correct.

But I knew this project was pushed back a year a long time ago. Not sure why A channel is reporting it now.
-What I didn't know is that the reconstruction of Sarnia is being delayed... that must have been a more recent story.

Once again, our fair city is spending millions upon millions on a 4 lane bridge for a 2 lane road... why not cough up the few extra mil needed to complete the project in one fowl swoop? (Oxford West and Quebec Street bridges are other notable examples.)

Oh, and for the record, Fontana said he wouldn't freeze or take anything away from road/infrastructure projects with his tax freeze.

A news needs a youtube channel.

[Pimpmasterdac]

Originally Posted by Simpseatles

Is the city going ahead with the Bradley extension this year? Because although Southdale definitely needs to be widened, it could help to alleviate some of the congestion and that might be their logic.

From the budget documents that I've seen the only mention of Bradley is that they would widen it to 4 lanes from Dearness to Pond Mills. I'm sure the western extension is going to happen soon with the new lights at Wonderland, but knowing London it be delayed due to land issues!

Originally Posted by haljackey

I can tell you that the guy in that report who said it takes 15 mins to take a left turn on Southdale at rush hour is correct.
...
Once again, our fair city is spending millions upon millions on a 4 lane bridge for a 2 lane road... why not cough up the few extra mil needed to complete the project in one fowl swoop?

From the piece it seems to suggest that we don't have a full-time traffic planner, but an acting one instead. Nothing against the man, but how does the city implement a well thought-out and through plan, when there's no full time professional planner? Instead its up to the whims of Council, who will pork-barrel and attempt to get their area's projects done first over what is truly needed!

IMO London has ZERO logic in its road projects scheduling and how they're implemented. Viscount & Andover got 'traffic calming measures' (which I hate) but regardless we're going to happen at some point. Instead of implementing them AFTER Southdale is expanded or Bradley is extended so that it doesn't affect traffic, the city does them BEFORE, thus creating more congestion and less road space for more cars in the SW.

That corner at Southdale & Andover I know all well driving to work, that the boulevards have been extended, the roads narrowed, street parking allowed on Andover almost to the edge of Southdale, creating 2 & 1/2 lanes where it use to be comfortably 4. Sheer stupidity!

[haljackey]

Originally Posted by Pimpmasterdac

From the piece it seems to suggest that we don't have a full-time traffic planner.

Transportation geography is my area of focus. Where do I apply?


I live a 5 min walk from Andover and Viscount and I can tell you that they did in fact go overkill with these traffic calming measures. Andover should at the most have recieved curb extensions on one side of the road, not both sides + centre medians! The Viscount parking crossing is very, very narrow for vehicles and indirect for pedestrians. I walk around this thing and so do many others!

[Pimpmasterdac]

London hits 401 jackpot

London’s profile along ­Canada’s busiest superhighway is about to get its biggest boost since it became part of the city nearly 20 years ago.

The city will get new Hwy. 401 interchanges — projects worth tens of millions of dollars, adding new economic muscle to the city — at Wonderland Rd. in the west end and at Veterans Memorial Parkway in the east, The Free Press has learned.

The projects are meant to open adjacent lands for development and realize a dream for London laid out 18 years ago, when vast tracts of rural lands were annexed into the city and brought the 401 within its boundaries.

http://www.lfpress.com/news/london/2011/05/25/18192866.html

Well it's about time our provincial minister's like Bentley & Matthews gave something to London! My only hope is that they issue these cheque's prior to October before the Liberals go the way of their federal brothers

The article is a bit lacking though, it doesn't suggest a timetable for these interchanges to be built, and says they're going to be clovers, which can't be right. Either way it's good to hear Wonderland will finally get piped into the 401 and VMP will have it's connection upgraded, both long overdue and good senior government is picking up the tab!

[haljackey]

This is all hype... not sure why the Free Press had such a huge article about it. Must have been a slow news day.

Wonderland/401 is planned, but there's no date or budget set by both the MTO and the city. I say 2015 at the absolute earliest before construction begins.

VMP/401 is skeptical. There is nothing planned here and the proposed south extension of the VMP would make the 401 Interchange signalized (parclo interchange proposed by the city which is not free-flowing), killing all dreams to make the VMP a freeway one day.

So yeah, it won't happen any time soon, but don't completely give your hopes up.

[Pimpmasterdac]

I know the VMP has been proposed as a Parclo A-4, but not sure it will be when hearing the price tag. A-News today said it would cost $70 million for both Wonderland & VMP, I'm no expert in highway construction costs, does it really costs ~$35 million for 1 Parclo A-4?

Official announcement is suppose to be tomorrow, so we'll know everything then.

[MrSlippery519]

Originally Posted by Pimpmasterdac

I know the VMP has been proposed as a Parclo A-4, but not sure it will be when hearing the price tag. A-News today said it would cost $70 million for both Wonderland & VMP, I'm no expert in highway construction costs, does it really costs ~$35 million for 1 Parclo A-4?

Official announcement is suppose to be tomorrow, so we'll know everything then.

Here is a little more information http://www.lfpress.com/news/london/2011/05/27/18201826.html
Looks like this is getting pushed a little quicker than some have expected which is a good thing...the Wonderland/401 interchange is desperately needed.

[Simpseatles]

Crap, looks like the VMP interchange will be a Parclo A-4.

Yay, lets service some tiny rural road that's barely even a kilometre away from the 401, let the massive Innovation Industrial Park sit vacant for another few years, and screw any chances of VMP ever becoming a freeway all in one! That sounds like a great idea!

The Wonderland project sounds good though!

[haljackey]

Still nothing in the MTO's Highway Construction Program regarding these projects. The program goes to the end of 2014 and states work could be done on the 401 between Highways 4 and 402 after that date. My assumption is this would include Wonderland's interchange.

Not happy with the VMP junction. It's fine the way it is for now.

Link to the construction program: http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/pubs/highway-construction/southern-highway-2010/index.shtml

[ForestryW]

Originally Posted by Simpseatles

Crap, looks like the VMP interchange will be a Parclo A-4.

Yay, lets service some tiny rural road that's barely even a kilometre away from the 401, let the massive Innovation Industrial Park sit vacant for another few years, and screw any chances of VMP ever becoming a freeway all in one! That sounds like a great idea!

The Wonderland project sounds good though!

I'm still not really getting why it's so essential that the VMP be a full freeway.

Why would this affect the Industrial Park in any way?

[haljackey]

Originally Posted by van Hemessen

I'm still not really getting why it's so essential that the VMP be a full freeway.

For starters, this will be a magnificant achievement for London. We don't have a freeway, so it will be a first for the city.

Second, it will up the capacity for the road and will make it much safer... Seeing truckers slam on the beaks leaves 30 metre long skid marks on the road, others will barrel through a red light unable to stop, creating unsafe conditions.

VMP should at least be a freeway up to Dundas or Oxford, and can get upgraded further north once traffic demands warrant it.

I'm sure the MTO will look at this proposition and deny it. Remember, the VMP used to be Highway 100 back in the day (owned by the province) and it was envisioned to become a freeway. Building a parclo at the 401 will kill it while the current trumpet design is compatible with freeways.

In short, it's taking a massive step backwards for a minor move forward (a short southern extension). I've supported Fontana thus far, but this is one thing I don't agree with. I'm not sure he fully understands what this will do to the VMP's future. Let's hope he learns soon before this plan is set in motion.

[ForestryW]

Originally Posted by haljackey

For starters, this will be a magnificant achievement for London. We don't have a freeway, so it will be a first for the city.

Well that's a matter of perspective I suppose. I don't personally put freeways in the "magnificent achievements" category but to each his own.

[Simpseatles]

Originally Posted by van Hemessen

Why would this affect the Industrial Park in any way?

It might not, but the point of this extension is to open up more land for industrial use, on the south side of the 401. Meanwhile, I have not seen any new industrial buildings built on the massive Innovation Industrial park, since 2008! These huge roads have been built all over the place, and I've been waiting for it to fill up with "innovative" industries, but 80% of the usable space is still fields! My concern is that if the city can't fill up this park, then why rush to start building more?

[Wharn]

Originally Posted by haljackey

VMP should at least be a freeway up to Dundas or Oxford, and can get upgraded further north once traffic demands warrant it.

Honestly the Dundas-Oxford segment is the first section that ought to be upgraded. It has a low speed limit and a ton of signalized intersections. They call it an "expressway" but I've seen fewer lights on Toronto arterials. IMO, if the city is going to be upgrading anything it ought to work on the section that needs it most.

Originally Posted by haljackey

In short, it's taking a massive step backwards for a minor move forward (a short southern extension). I've supported Fontana thus far, but this is one thing I don't agree with. I'm not sure he fully understands what this will do to the VMP's future. Let's hope he learns soon before this plan is set in motion.

Make no mistake, Fontana's a moron. He certainly doesn't understand urban economics or even basic planning principles. Given that the city has plans to ultimately upgrade the whole road to a freeway (which he has supported), building a parclo right now is nothing more than counter-productive. That being said, he's still a much better fit for the job than the bubblehead we had for the past decade.