London Roads

[north 42]

Originally Posted by Snark

Careful, some of that stuff has nothing to do with the city getting benefit. The Windsor parkway for example is being done not to benefit Windsor, it's a missing link in the NAFTA superhighway network that badly needs to be filled in. If Windsor were not there and the link was still missing, the project would still be going forward. This project may in fact have a somewhat detrimental effect on the City: when complete 90% of the border crossing traffic will bypass the city all together instead of being forced to drive through it.

Actually the Windsor-Essex Parkway is only going forward because of the years long fight by this city to get an appropriate fix to the border problems that were happening here. If Windsor wasn't here, there would just be an extention of the 401, not the incredible design that we are getting now. If your city doesn't fight to get things done, then your city loses.

This parkway will have an amazing effect on the city, not a detrimental one. First off, the parkway runs right through south Windsor, it does not bypass it. It will take thousands of belching trucks off our streets and give the city back it's roads for it's own residents. We will still get thousands of cars going to the Ambassador Bridge, so there is only good happening because of this project.

[Symz]

Originally Posted by north 42

Actually the Windsor-Essex Parkway is only going forward because of the years long fight by this city to get an appropriate fix to the border problems that were happening here. If Windsor wasn't here, there would just be an extention of the 401, not the incredible design that we are getting now. If your city doesn't fight to get things done, then your city loses.

This parkway will have an amazing effect on the city, not a detreimental one. Firt off, the parkway runs right through south Windsor, it does not bypass it. It will take thousands of belching trucks off our streets and give the city back it's roads for it's own residents. We will still get thousands of cars going to the Ambassador Bridge, so there is only good happening because of this project.

I agree with you north42

[haljackey]

At least the city is finally taking a vision with the 401/402 development plan.

It's been so long since our city had vision that a lot of people/the media are giving the mayor flak for 'change'.

This vision will give us the Wonderland/401 interchange (and a changeup at VMP/401).
-I talked with the city last year asking when it was going to be built and they told me it was a decade away or more. What a difference a little vision can have.

Let's get a vision going for our urban road and transit infrastructure.

If I was mayor, I'd tax the crap outa ya and and make this entire city a construction zone. It would be 4 years of hell but afterwards we'd have a decent transport network.

[Wharn]

Originally Posted by GreatTallNorth2

And we need that, like we need Anne Marie back in the mayors chair.

Christ, please, anyone but her. If you want another Lost Decade, she'd find a way to make it happen. But to be fair the city suffers from a lack of leadership right down to the core.

Originally Posted by Pimpmasterdac

On Hyde Park Rd the problem is they want to get rid of right hand turn lanes, which the cities own reports say will be needed within ~10 years. The city needs to think whats good for the WHOLE city, not what some stuck up NIMBY residents think. Hyde Park is the most western north-south road that we'll have. Expanding it properly will help relieve Wonderland and push back the need to widen to 6 lanes. But knowing our weak kneed council they'll cave to these whiners and probably push back construction to 2020.

And here's a perfect example- London gets nothing done because London can't make its mind up and because London serves up half-baked plans in the first place.

[Kokkei Mizu]

Just drove westbound on the 401 between Wellington and Highway 4. I noticed a bunch of pylons and construction signs set up along the way there, and signs saying eastbound access to the 401 from Highway 4 will be closed on certain nights. A simple repaving, or maybe preliminary work for Wonderland Rd. interchange?

[K85]

Please be the latter!!!

[haljackey]

Originally Posted by K85

Please be the latter!!!

Doubt it. The construction isn't slated to begin until 2013, at least according to the MTO.

The pavement on this stretch is probably in the roughest shape on the entire route.

[go_leafs_go02]

It's for pavement rehabilitation...almost sure of that.

[Pimpmasterdac]

Hopefully Wonderland is done sooner than later. Again though London is neglected and short-sighted planning continuing? Even if its rehabilitation of the 401, why not get going on tearing down these old shitty overpasses so that the MTO can make the 401 6-lanes through London? Rather than paving road and (perhaps) razing it to widen the 401.

VMP interchange is where someone needs to throw a bucket of water on MTO/City of London for the 401. Permanently make VMP a traffic light road is that goes ahead. If anything they should start building interchanges on VMP rather than this abomination which will slow down traffic

[haljackey]

Originally Posted by Pimpmasterdac

Even if its rehabilitation of the 401, why not get going on tearing down these old shitty overpasses so that the MTO can make the 401 6-lanes through London? Rather than paving road and (perhaps) razing it to widen the 401.

VMP interchange is where someone needs to throw a bucket of water on MTO/City of London for the 401. Permanently make VMP a traffic light road is that goes ahead. If anything they should start building interchanges on VMP rather than this abomination which will slow down traffic

There's actually a lobbyist group of bridge historians who are fighting to prevent the Westminster Drive overpass from being torn down. With the Wellington Road structure replaced, apparently Westminster is the last bridge to have that certain design spec that they are lobbying to keep. Problem is that the bridge only spans 4 lanes, so is it really worth the cost to rehabilitate it and keep traffic squeezed?

As for the VMP, it will have interchanges. Just give em 70 years.
-Although I think Joe is trying to cut this down. Not sure how much but I bet we'll know when the 2030 transportation master plan is completed.

[manny_santos]

There's been some various pavement rehabilitation going on in the London area lately. Highway 402 has had various work going on for the past month from the 401 to at least Highway 4.

[Wharn]

Originally Posted by manny_santos

There's been some various pavement rehabilitation going on in the London area lately. Highway 402 has had various work going on for the past month from the 401 to at least Highway 4.

Don't forget about the delicious bridge pavement rehabilitation at Perth and Windermere. Seriously, who planned this project? Did it never occur to anyone that the bridge work should perhaps be finished before the fall/winter session begins and before Perth Drive's traffic volume doubles?

[MolsonExport]

Nahh. Just on the heels of the good ol' 45 minute delays on Western road for the past 4 months...great idea.

[haljackey]

So a recent study was recently conducted by the London Metro asking what London can do to reduce traffic congestion.

Only 8% said widening roads was a good idea. This is sad, especially since many 'unwidened' roads have been designed to be expanded. If these roads were already widened to their design specs then I would think differently.

Honestly, the bus network can't be improved much more without substantial funding (BRT, busways, bus terminal downtown, etc.). Widened roads can also improve the efficiency of the bus system.

[Pimpmasterdac]

With all due respect to London Metro its a paper that's available at bus stops, rather than one people get delivered. The people surveyed more likely don't have cars and don't get any direct benefit for widening roads.

Having more bus bays that get them off the road and allow traffic to flow will help. Just look at Richmond between Oxford and UWO, it's like playing frogger either getting stuck behind a bus that stops every 100 metres or some late left-hand turner. Bus bays would help.

Road widening is the other logical step. Southdale behind a bus is the same as behind an elephant. You going nowhere quick. having more lanes that allow traffic to pass slow vehicles will be key. London needs to grow a pair and start expanding the roads

Finally I doubt London will every have a BRT. It's only really feasible along roads with 6+ lanes, basically only Wellington from Baseline to 401. Anywhere else the road is effectively narrowed to a 2 lane road, like Wellington north of Baseline, all of Oxford and all of Richmond.

Express bus routes would be more realistic and efficient. If people could ge crosstown without 50 odd stops, it would be a more viable option.

Otherwise nothing will change, London traffic will get worse, and congestion won't disappear!

[Doady]

Bus bays are a great way to inconvenience bus riders and give priority to the car, which is probably what London should do considering it is located in the snowbelt, and therefore public transit is not a viable option no matter what.

[MolsonExport]

Originally Posted by Doady

Bus bays are a great way to inconvenience bus riders and give priority to the car, which is probably what London should do considering it is located in the snowbelt, and therefore public transit is not a viable option no matter what.

[Wharn]

Originally Posted by Doady

Bus bays are a great way to inconvenience bus riders and give priority to the car, which is probably what London should do considering it is located in the snowbelt, and therefore public transit is not a viable option no matter what.

Look mommy, a troll on the London Local!

[haljackey]

London should have more of these:

[manny_santos]

More Philadelphia Flyer trucks?