Highways in Canada

[vid]

They're vile, post modernist shit but I don't blame someone in London for preferring them. Your architecture is worse.

[MolsonExport]

No matter how much stuff has been put up in the past 20 years, the immense concentration of seventies commie blocks in Toronto staggers the mind. Quite likely the greatest commieblock concentration in the world outside of Eurasia. 200-fold London's quantity. Driving the 401 is truly a marvel of commieblockmanship.

Unfortunately, by and large, that is all London has. Commie blocks and a few stuccrapos, and one london place. And unlike Taranna, they are STILL building commie blocks in London.

Second that badness that is unWonderland and Oxfart.

[Wharn]

Originally Posted by vid

They're vile, post modernist shit but I don't blame someone in London for preferring them. Your architecture is worse.

I didn't know Thunder Bay was an oasis of tasteful urban design. I just assumed it was a lot like North Bay... except on a bigger lake.

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

Unfortunately, by and large, that is all London has. Commie blocks and a few stuccrapos, and one london place. And unlike Taranna, they are STILL building commie blocks in London.

Second that badness that is unWonderland and Oxfart.

Toronto's building commieblocks as well. Off the top of my head I can think of a few going up at the intersection of Don Mills Road and Sheppard Avenue. That being said, they're supposed to be rental units, which could explain something- London's problem is that most people with money don't bother with apartments, so there is really no incentive to make them look pleasing from the outside. The City really needs to get strict with design, at least in the downtown core.

[Xelebes]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

No matter how much stuff has been put up in the past 20 years, the immense concentration of seventies commie blocks in Toronto staggers the mind. Quite likely the greatest commieblock concentration in the world outside of Eurasia. 200-fold London's quantity. Driving the 401 is truly a marvel of commieblockmanship.

Sao Paolo? Or is the commieblock defined by being a poor Tower-in-the-Park concept and/or the longer-than-tall tower-in-the-park?

[caltrane74]

I was in Grand Bend over the weekend, and was surprised by how modern and fast the back country roads are, in Southwestern Ontario , they are all over 70 kph or more, well maintained and there were hardly any cars on the road. It's almost like you have the whole road to yourself.

But then again, I come from Toronto...

[haljackey]

Originally Posted by caltrane74

I was in Grand Bend over the weekend, and was surprised by how modern and fast the back country roads are, in Southwestern Ontario , they are all over 70 kph or more, well maintained and there were hardly any cars on the road. It's almost like you have the whole road to yourself.

But then again, I come from Toronto...

Highway 4 is 80km/h and some of the back roads are 90. Most people won't take the main route to Grand Bend because it's faster and they're not as likely to get caught if speeding.

Grand Bend is a nice place. Take Highway 4 in the opposite direction and you'll end up in Port Stanley, the opposite of Grand Bend.

[vid]

Originally Posted by Wharn

I didn't know Thunder Bay was an oasis of tasteful urban design. I just assumed it was a lot like North Bay... except on a bigger lake.

It isn't, really. But compared to London, it is.

[Simpseatles]

Originally Posted by vid

It isn't, really. But compared to London, it is.

Honestly, do you have something against London? I realize we have a lot of faults in our urban design, but so does Thunder Bay. However, we are making some improvements, as I'm sure Thunder Bay is.

I just don't get it.

[vid]

Originally Posted by Simpseatles

Honestly, do you have something against London? I realize we have a lot of faults in our urban design, but so does Thunder Bay. However, we are making some improvements, as I'm sure Thunder Bay is.

I just don't get it.

Bashing London's architecture is a running joke on this forum, and saying "I think this building looks good... but I'm from Thunder Bay" is one of my schticks.

I'm not doing it to be mean. Of course there is lots of good architecture in London. It's just not apparent in its skyline. And when it comes to designing a city, Thunder Bay and London are equals. Our road network might not be as disjointed as yours anymore (it used to be really bad because it was disjointed on both an arterial and local level), but the "Walmart is the real downtown" mentality here makes up for that.

[Wharn]

The fact remains that this is a thread about highways. Discussion of London's commieblocks should be contained in the Ugly Canada Thread; however, feel free to make fun of our world-famous invisible ring road and the Highbury microfreeway.

[haljackey]

Originally Posted by Wharn

The fact remains that this is a thread about highways. Discussion of London's commieblocks should be contained in the Ugly Canada Thread; however, feel free to make fun of our world-famous invisible ring road and the Highbury microfreeway.

Ok.

Here's a video I made showing part of the Highbury Avenue grade-separated expressway.

(It's the first part of the video.)
• Video Link

And here's a lower quality video by another videographer showing Highbury Avenue in it's entirety.
• Video Link

[haljackey]

Originally Posted by Wharn

The fact remains that this is a thread about highways. Discussion of London's commieblocks should be contained in the Ugly Canada Thread; however, feel free to make fun of our world-famous invisible ring road and the Highbury microfreeway.

Ok.

Here's a video I made showing part of the Highbury Avenue expressway.

(It's the first part of the video.)
• Video Link

And here's a lower quality video by another videographer showing the start of the Highbury Avenue expressway.
• Video Link

[eternallyme]

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/artic...e-slab-collapses-in-montreal-tunnel?bn=1

Large concrete slab collapses in Montreal tunnel

The Canadian Press (July 31, 2011)

MONTREAL—A huge concrete slab has collapsed in Montreal’s Ville-Marie tunnel, forcing the closure of a major city highway in both directions.

No injuries were reported in the collapse, which happened around 9:30 a.m. today on Highway 720.

[PhilippeMtl]

This is what happens when all the employees, ministers and engineers of Transport Quebec all live in Quebec City, they don't care about Montreal...

Montreal must separate from Quebec and come a new province. I am tired of all this bullshit in this province.

[Nicko999]

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/artic...e-slab-collapses-in-montreal-tunnel?bn=1

[bulliver]

Holy crap, very lucky no one was killed.

I don't even remember, were there fatalities when that overpass in Laval collapsed?

[harls]

Originally Posted by bulliver

Holy crap, very lucky no one was killed.

I don't even remember, were there fatalities when that overpass in Laval collapsed?

Five I think.

This was really lucky.. I'm surprised no one was hurt as well.

[ToxiK]

Originally Posted by bulliver

Holy crap, very lucky no one was killed.

I don't even remember, were there fatalities when that overpass in Laval collapsed?

5, including a pregnant woman. And many more injured.

[le calmar]

I went there this afternoon. What a pathetic show.

[Darkoshvilli]

Imagine if this happened on a weekday in rush-hour? Its amazingly fortunate that it collapsed in the most quiet time of the week which is Sunday morning.