Highways in Canada - Page 23

Metro-One · #**441** Posted **Oct 30, 2011, 7:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by craner

What is the expected completion date for the Gateway project in Vancouver ?
I want to make sure I take a drive out when it is done.

Sorry to leave you hanging there, 2013 is the 100% completion date for the project.

Kitchissippi · #**442** Posted **Oct 30, 2011, 7:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Symz

Eww. Where's the pride? I'm with you on this, fix it or get rid of it. It vaguely reminds me of seeing torn up faded canadian flags being flown...

Even worse is the fact that the Trans Canada Highway runs through Ottawa, the nation's capital, and it isn't even prominently signed. The TCH is more visible going through Montreal, or most anywhere else it goes outside of Ontario. The MTO sure has weird priorities, aesthetics and consistency in signage certainly isn't one of them.

sonysnob · #**443** Posted **Oct 30, 2011, 11:29 PM**

The MTO (Ontario's Ministry of Transportation) does a very poor job of signing the Trans-Canada Highway through Ontario. I urge everybody to tell them that they are doing such a poor job, so maybe more signs will go up. In fact here is some text:

___
The Ministry of Transportation is the only province in Canada to not sign the Trans Canada Highway at major junctions across the province. I believe that this lack of signage disserves the motoring public as interprovincial traffic is forced to learn Ontario’s highway numbering system rather than follow highway signage that is consistent across Canada’s other nine provinces. I believe that the MTO should consider improving Trans Canada Highway signage across Ontario, particularly at highway junctions.
Thank you.
____

There is a contact form on this page:
http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/about/contact-us.shtml

MolsonExport · #**444** Posted **Oct 31, 2011, 1:58 AM**

There is a proposal before Toronto City Hall to rename the Toronto section of the 401: The Rob Fucking Ford Freeway: Highway of Marshmallows.

go_leafs_go02 · #**445** Posted **Oct 31, 2011, 3:24 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by sonysnob

The MTO (Ontario's Ministry of Transportation) does a very poor job of signing the Trans-Canada Highway through Ontario. I urge everybody to tell them that they are doing such a poor job, so maybe more signs will go up. In fact here is some text:

___
The Ministry of Transportation is the only province in Canada to not sign the Trans Canada Highway at major junctions across the province. I believe that this lack of signage disserves the motoring public as interprovincial traffic is forced to learn Ontario’s highway numbering system rather than follow highway signage that is consistent across Canada’s other nine provinces. I believe that the MTO should consider improving Trans Canada Highway signage across Ontario, particularly at highway junctions.
Thank you.
____

There is a contact form on this page:
http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/about/contact-us.shtml

I'm actually having some correspondance with the MTO about their gaps in provincial highways from the 1997/1998 downloads. Going after how confusing following Highway 3 through Port Colbourne is, as well as harping on Highway 9's gap as Wellington Road 109.

Is there any place in North America that has as confusion of a highway route network than Ontario? Can't believe that the downloads permitted municipalities to remove the provincial highway signage. Something should have been done to retain the signage and the highway number. Now alot of it makes NO sense..

craner · #**446** Posted **Oct 31, 2011, 4:18 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metro-One

Sorry to leave you hanging there, 2013 is the 100% completion date for the project.

Thanks - I'll be able to take a completed SE Stoney Trail out of Calgary on my way then too.

craneSpotter · #**447** Posted **Oct 31, 2011, 4:22 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mininari

Its probably the biggest highway project west of Toronto right now (or competing with Calgary's Stoney Trail).

Just an FYI - these would most likely be the top five 'highway' projects currently underway in Western Canada:

1) Port Mann/HWY 1 (Metro Vancouver) - $2.46 Billion
2) Anthony Henday Drive NW (Edmonton) - $1.42 Billion
3) Stoney Trail SE (Calgary) - $0.77 Billion
4) South Fraser Perimeter Road (Metro Vancouver) - $0.66 Billion
5) Circle Drive South (Saskatoon) - $0.29 Billion

source - http://top100projects.ca/map/

haljackey · #**448** Posted **Oct 31, 2011, 6:13 AM**

In my mind the Trans-Canada Highway should be designated TCH-1 throughout the entire country!

You could have a co-sign, such as 417 through Ottawa, but just label the dam thing correctly. It's considered a national treasure you know... being famous for the longest point-to-point road in the world and whatnot...

eemy · #**449** Posted **Oct 31, 2011, 11:06 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by haljackey

In my mind the Trans-Canada Highway should be designated TCH-1 throughout the entire country!

You could have a co-sign, such as 417 through Ottawa, but just label the dam thing correctly. It's considered a national treasure you know... being famous for the longest point-to-point road in the world and whatnot...

I don't think that's quite right (the longest highway bit) but in principle I agree with you. I think just putting regular TCH shields along the highway ought to be sufficient though. No sense renumbering.

sonysnob · #**450** Posted **Oct 31, 2011, 11:06 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by go_leafs_go02

Is there any place in North America that has as confusion of a highway route network than Ontario? Can't believe that the downloads permitted municipalities to remove the provincial highway signage. Something should have been done to retain the signage and the highway number. Now alot of it makes NO sense..

California has some similar situations where highways start and stop at municipal boundaries where the highway has been transferred to the local municipality. It is shown as a complete route on Google Maps, but California Highway 111 starts and stops a few times as it passes through the Coachella Valley.

Other Highways, such as Highway 173 start and stop on different sides of the mountain.

Quote:

Originally Posted by haljackey

In my mind the Trans-Canada Highway should be designated TCH-1 throughout the entire country!

You could have a co-sign, such as 417 through Ottawa, but just label the dam thing correctly. It's considered a national treasure you know... being famous for the longest point-to-point road in the world and whatnot...

You're argument has merit, however it would be far more difficult and costly to co-designate Highway 17 as TCH 1 then it would be to do a better job in signing the system that we have. I feel as though a proposal to add a Hwy 1 designation to Hwy 17 would be quickly rejected by the MTO. That said, I encourage you to use the feedback form to draw attention to the way that MTO signs its Trans Canada Highway segments through Ontario.

Mininari · #**451** Posted **Oct 31, 2011, 3:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by craneSpotter

Just an FYI - these would most likely be the top five 'highway' projects currently underway in Western Canada:

1) Port Mann/HWY 1 (Metro Vancouver) - $2.46 Billion
2) Anthony Henday Drive NW (Edmonton) - $1.42 Billion
3) Stoney Trail SE (Calgary) - $0.77 Billion
4) South Fraser Perimeter Road (Metro Vancouver) - $0.66 Billion
5) Circle Drive South (Saskatoon) - $0.29 Billion

source - http://top100projects.ca/map/

Interesting link; Thanks.
I was figuring that against the entire Stoney Trail Project, since I've been watching the NW, NE and SE projects as part of the whole Stoney Trail Ringroad for years now (albeit I know the SW segment is stuck in limbo).

Its funny that the new Winnipeg Airport (just opened yesterday!) isn't on that list... Its in the $500M +/- range.

Dmajackson · #**452** Posted **Oct 31, 2011, 4:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by haljackey

In my mind the Trans-Canada Highway should be designated TCH-1 throughout the entire country!

You could have a co-sign, such as 417 through Ottawa, but just label the dam thing correctly. It's considered a national treasure you know... being famous for the longest point-to-point road in the world and whatnot...

If the federal government is willing to fork over thousands (or millions) of dollars to Nova Scotia for renumbering eight seperate highways we could get on board with most of the country.

Out here we have a very specific road numbering system and if it were to become a requirement we would not only have to renumber Highways 104, 105, and 106 (all of which carry the TCH label), but we would also have to renumber their "sister" highways and the existing Highway 1 and its "sisters". In all this would mean renumbering thousands of kilometers of highway.

All high speed, high volume highways in Nova Scotia carry a "100 Series" designation. These highway are supplemented by "sister" highways that are the main streets and secondary streets in our towns. These highways are "Trunks" (0-99), and "200-300 Series". The existing Highway 1 goes from Bedford all the way to Yarmouth (300km+ direct) and follows this system which means there is a parallel Highway 101 and 201. The existing TCH highway (104, 105, and 106) also follow this system. The new system would throw our system out of whack and this doesn't even consider how to number the loop around Prince Edward Island.

I think the best system might be requiring one number for each province. Out here that would be Highway 104. This would only require renumbering four highway systems. Presumably 105 and 205 would become 104 and 304, and the 106 would become 104A. This would reduce the changes in number to a maximum of ten but considering the agreement in Western Canada and PEI it would be even less.

LeftCoaster · #**453** Posted **Oct 31, 2011, 4:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mininari

Interesting link; Thanks.
I was figuring that against the entire Stoney Trail Project, since I've been watching the NW, NE and SE projects as part of the whole Stoney Trail Ringroad for years now (albeit I know the SW segment is stuck in limbo).

Its funny that the new Winnipeg Airport (just opened yesterday!) isn't on that list... Its in the $500M +/- range.

But its the top highway projects... why would Winnipeg's new terminal building be on that list?

kirjtc2 · #**454** Posted **Oct 31, 2011, 5:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by go_leafs_go02

Is there any place in North America that has as confusion of a highway route network than Ontario? Can't believe that the downloads permitted municipalities to remove the provincial highway signage. Something should have been done to retain the signage and the highway number. Now alot of it makes NO sense..

There are many states in the US where just because a route has a state highway number doesn't mean the state maintains it. The numbers are just there for navigational purposes. Ontario should have at least gone that way.

Ontario has the worst route signing system in NA and it's not even close. (Maybe Newfoundland which doesn't even sign its route numbers consistently.) They really, really screwed the pooch on this one.

kirjtc2 · #**455** Posted **Oct 31, 2011, 5:29 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dmajackson

If the federal government is willing to fork over thousands (or millions) of dollars to Nova Scotia for renumbering eight seperate highways we could get on board with most of the country.

Out here we have a very specific road numbering system and if it were to become a requirement we would not only have to renumber Highways 104, 105, and 106 (all of which carry the TCH label), but we would also have to renumber their "sister" highways and the existing Highway 1 and its "sisters". In all this would mean renumbering thousands of kilometers of highway.

There used to be, at one point, a consistent Highway 2 that went all the way from Halifax to Windsor ON. It was broken up when Quebec renumbered everything in the 70s, and then there was Ontario downloading mess in the 90s that put an end to highway 2 there. It's still more or less intact in NS (although it's no longer a main road), and 2 is still the number for the TCH in NB.

(I know way too much about highway numbers...don't get me started.)

Acajack · #**456** Posted **Oct 31, 2011, 6:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by haljackey

In my mind the Trans-Canada Highway should be designated TCH-1 throughout the entire country!

You could have a co-sign, such as 417 through Ottawa, but just label the dam thing correctly. It's considered a national treasure you know... being famous for the longest point-to-point road in the world and whatnot...

Something like this would be sufficient:
http://www.autoroutes.info/autoroutes/85_riviereduloup.jpg

Quebec generally does this but Ontario does not. But don't get me started on Ontario highway signs...

ConundrumNL · #**457** Posted **Oct 31, 2011, 9:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kirjtc2

Maybe Newfoundland which doesn't even sign its route numbers consistently.)

I don't think anyone really uses route numbers in NL. Pretty much every road has a name. Some of the newer Trans-Canada signs even omit the route number and the shield simply for T.C.H.

Most people probably don't even realize the roads are numbered.

new age · #**458** Posted **Oct 31, 2011, 10:22 PM**

This is all just a reflection of the Federal Government, and their lack of a national transportation strategy. With most of the funding, and all the planning done by lower levels of government; we are left with far more then signs to worry about.

Wharn · #**459** Posted **Nov 1, 2011, 12:53 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by haljackey

In my mind the Trans-Canada Highway should be designated TCH-1 throughout the entire country!

You could have a co-sign, such as 417 through Ottawa, but just label the dam thing correctly. It's considered a national treasure you know... being famous for the longest point-to-point road in the world and whatnot...

First of all, if the feds are going to get involved with roads, then they should focus on real, tangible things like rural highway twinning. We don't need embarassments like Highway 69 being signed as a "national treasure" just because it would create one big, happy roadway with the same number.

Second of all, I don't think the Federal level of government should essentially be taking credit for something the provinces built. I want to keep Highways 7, 12 and 17, etc, etc, they work perfectly fine with the current number scheme and changing them over would just be a waste of time and money.

go_leafs_go02 · #**460** Posted **Nov 1, 2011, 3:08 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kirjtc2

There are many states in the US where just because a route has a state highway number doesn't mean the state maintains it. The numbers are just there for navigational purposes. Ontario should have at least gone that way.

Ontario has the worst route signing system in NA and it's not even close. (Maybe Newfoundland which doesn't even sign its route numbers consistently.) They really, really screwed the pooch on this one.

Yep, a number SHOULD be for navigational purposes, and NOT to show who owns/maintains the road.

I still can't believe that the 1997/1998 Ontario highway downloads did not somehow include details that the province would still retain signage, or create a provincial highway network in which municipalities are required to have signage from a province-wide basis, and not a regional-basis. As well, today's network gives NO alternative to the 400 series Highways. If you wanted to avoid Highway 401 for whatever reason, just hop on Highway 2. Now, you'll end up on a number of differently named roads that were part of Highway 2.

One day, I hope the MTO decides to review the highway network, create provincial highway signage guidelines, and if I have my wish, the majority of the 1997/1998 downloaded highways would be reinstated, simply for navigational reason.

And what they could do, is have the provincial highway shield and where "The King's Highway" moniker was originally located, replace it with the county name or municipality.