Highways in Canada - Page 26

Metro-One · #**501** Posted **Nov 15, 2011, 8:39 PM**

Amazing find!

Metro-One · #**502** Posted **Nov 15, 2011, 9:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by VANRIDERFAN

• Video Link

• Video Link

This will be cool when it is done.

OK, i think this deserves to be bumped to the top of this page, hehe.

This is why it is so expensive to build 4 lane highways in BC! Compare this project to plowing through the Prairies.

Would be great if the Federal government could 4 lane the section through Yoho Park and make the entire section from Golden to the Alberta border a proper freeway.

VANRIDERFAN · #**503** Posted **Nov 15, 2011, 9:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metro-One

OK, i think this deserves to be bumped to the top of this page, hehe.

This is why it is so expensive to build 4 lane highways in BC! Compare this project to plowing through the Prairies.

Would be great if the Federal government could 4 lane the section through Yoho Park and make the entire section from Golden to the Alberta border a proper freeway.

Actually Parks Canada is in the planning stages of doing just that.

LeftCoaster · #**504** Posted **Nov 15, 2011, 9:47 PM**

Great videos Vanriderfan, thanks for the post.

Does anyone know any vague dates for a full twinning from Van to Calgary? Is it even something that could be accomplished in the next 20 years?

VANRIDERFAN · #**505** Posted **Nov 15, 2011, 10:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

Great videos Vanriderfan, thanks for the post.

Does anyone know any vague dates for a full twinning from Van to Calgary? Is it even something that could be accomplished in the next 20 years?

You are looking at 20 years. The section between Golden and Kamloops is by far the toughest to build.

sonysnob · #**506** Posted **Nov 16, 2011, 4:39 AM**

This is Autoroute 50 near Route 317 in Thurso (again shot back in September). This is the eastern-most interchange along the western segment of freeway.

Looking easterly along A-50 from the Route 317 interchange towards the loop ramps that carry east- and westbound traffic to and from Route 317:

Looking westerly on A-50 from Route 317:

This photo looks south along Route 317:

MolsonExport · #**507** Posted **Nov 16, 2011, 1:28 PM**

^great shots. I like rock cuts.

LeftCoaster · #**508** Posted **Nov 16, 2011, 3:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by VANRIDERFAN

You are looking at 20 years. The section between Golden and Kamloops is by far the toughest to build.

Is that your estimate or has the government ever stated any timeline or even an intention to fully build it out?

Sorry for the rash of questions, but my knowledge of the interior of BC is woefully low.

VANRIDERFAN · #**509** Posted **Nov 16, 2011, 4:38 PM**

This is just my rough estimate. But since I have driven that route a thousand times, there are many sections that are carved into shear rock faces so the engineering problems are very numerous and expensive.

craneSpotter · #**510** Posted **Nov 16, 2011, 8:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

Great videos Vanriderfan, thanks for the post.

Does anyone know any vague dates for a full twinning from Van to Calgary? Is it even something that could be accomplished in the next 20 years?

Not in the next 20 years, even if the Feds were to fund it 100%!! But they have no money right now. So maybe in 40 years, if jointly funded.

Between Kamloops and the Alberta border lays a few hundred km to twin, through some of the most challenging (expensive) terrain in Canada.

For example, the Kicking Horse Canyon project, started in 2004 (4 Phases) is estimated to cost nearly $1 billion - to upgrade 26km to 4 lanes. To date 17.8 km is complete, with an additional 3.2km to be finsihed in 2012. The last phase (4) is the most expensive part of the project at $631 million, and funding has not even been secured yet. So it may be complete in 2016, if lucky.

Simply put, the population (taxpayer) concentrations in BC are in order of size: Lower Mainland, East Vancouver Island and the Okanagan Valley. Theses areas comprise just under 80% of the population. So, the majority of future transportation dollars are going to go to these areas. After Gateway is complete, there will be pressure for major upgrades to RTEs 1 & 17 on Vancouver Island & RTEs 3&97 in the Interior/Okanagan. After those are upgraded into the 2020's the focus will be back on the LM (RTEs 1,7,11,15,99 etc.).

Over the short term BC will NOT fund billions of $$$ to upgrade the eastern half of BC#1, which carries relatively little traffic most of the year. I do see the MoTI doing constant smaller upgrades (passing lane additions/bridges/curve redesigns) along that route over the next 30 years though - with maybe one or two more major projects during that time.

Metro-One · #**511** Posted **Nov 16, 2011, 9:10 PM**

I wish they would upgrade the #17 on Vancouver Island to full freeway grade in a single project (instead of one interchange every 10 years it seems, hehe).

On the Provincial website it does give a vague timeline of 20 years to twin the #1.

I really, really, really wish that at least the #1 in Canada was under federal jurisdiction. BC really did get the short end of the stick when comes to building highways, haha.

nname · #**512** Posted **Nov 17, 2011, 4:37 AM**

On a similar note, there was an environmental assessment about twinning the first 5km of TCH in Yoho park and it was passed a few month ago. I have neither seeing any project website nor hearing anything about it. Does anyone know what's happening with it?

Metro-One · #**513** Posted **Nov 17, 2011, 5:40 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

^great shots. I like rock cuts.

If you love rock cuts, then you must love this section of the Kicking Horse Pass completed just 2 years ago I believe (Phase 2 of the project)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tranbc/sets/72157626547031288/

jmt18325 · #**514** Posted **Nov 17, 2011, 6:01 AM**

Any idea when they plan on announcing funding for either part of phase 4 of KHC?

Stingray2004 · #**515** Posted **Nov 17, 2011, 6:29 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by nname

On a similar note, there was an environmental assessment about twinning the first 5km of TCH in Yoho park and it was passed a few month ago. I have neither seeing any project website nor hearing anything about it. Does anyone know what's happening with it?

From Parks Canada website:

Quote:

Into Yoho National Park

Parks Canada is pursuing an amendment to the existing TCH Twinning 2004 EA to allow construction of a short transition zone from four lanes down to the existing two lanes within Yoho National Park. This environmental assessment (Phase IIIB) will be amended to include assessment of an additional eight kilometre segment beyond the British Columbia-Alberta border to assess cumulative impacts.

http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/ab/banff/plan/transport-transportation/routes/index.aspx

CEAA granted the amendment and from their website:

Quote:

PCA has determined that an extension of construction length is desirable to more completely meet project objectives and the best interests of the People of Canada. This proposed extension would entail additional twinned highway from the British Columbia/Alberta border at Km 81.9 to the gravel pit northwest of Wapta Lake at Km 87.3 in Yoho National Park, and associated other project components (such as intersections, day use areas, and avalanche management) within and adjacent to this area.

http://www.ceaa.gc.ca/050/details-eng.cfm?evaluation=57984&ForceNOC=Y

I wouldn't, however, expect funding for that to be announced for another few years perhaps, although substantial completion of the Alberta portion will be fall, 2012, over 30 years after Banff NP twinning initially commenced.

craner · #**516** Posted **Nov 17, 2011, 7:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metro-One

On the Provincial website it does give a vague timeline of 20 years to twin the #1.

20 years would be awesome - but I'd say 50 years is more realistic given the massive cost.
Anyone know how many kms of 2 lane highway #1 there is left to twin in BC?
I'm thinking 400-500kms. ??

VANRIDERFAN · #**517** Posted **Nov 17, 2011, 8:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by craner

20 years would be awesome - but I'd say 50 years is more realistic given the massive cost.
Anyone know how many kms of 2 lane highway #1 there is left to twin in BC?
I'm thinking 400-500kms. ??

Around 350

nname · #**518** Posted **Nov 17, 2011, 11:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by VANRIDERFAN

Around 350

That's exactly the number for the mainland section.

What I've measured:

Code:

  1km	[2-lanes]		Victoria (to Belleville St)
  6km	[4-lanes]		Victoria (to Mackenzie Av)
  9km	[4-lanes freeway]	View Royal (to  Spencer Rd)
  2km	[Twinning in progress]	View Royal (to Gold Stream Av)
 20km	[2-lanes]		Mill Bay
 67km	[4-lanes divided]	South Wellington
  3km	[4-lanes freeway]	Nanaimo (to Cedar Rd)
  8km	[4-lanes]		Nanaimo (to Ferry)
 58km	[Ferry]			Horseshoe Bay
375km	[4-lanes freeway]	Kamloops (to Comazzetto Rd)
  7km	[4-lanes]		Kamloops (to Holman St)
 20km	[4-lanes freeway]	Monte Creek
 10km	[Twinning in progress]	Pritchard
  2km	[4-lanes]		3km east of Pritchard
  5km	[Twinning in progress]	Hoffman's Bluff
 34km	[2-lanes]		Blind Bay (to Hiltop Road)
 12km	[4-lanes]		Trappen (to Ford Road)
 15km	[2-lanes]		Salmon Arm
  6km	[4-lanes]		South Canoe
 38km	[2-lanes]		11km east of Sicamous
  9km	[4-lanes divided]	Malakwa
 36km	[2-lanes]		1km west of Clanwilliam Bridge
  2km	[Twinning in progress]	1km east of Clanwilliam Bridge
 12km	[2-lanes]		Revelstoke (to Columbia River Bridge)
  1km	[4-lanes divided]	Revelstoke (to Hwy 23)
 64km	[2-lanes]		Glacier (to West Gate)
  1km	[4-lanes divided]	West Gate
 56km	[2-lanes]		2km west of Donald Bridge
  3km	[Twinning in progress]	Donald
  1km	[4-lanes divided]	Donald Weight Complex
 21km	[2-lanes]		Golden (to 14 street)
  3km	[4-lanes divided]	Golden (to Golden Donald Upper Road)
  3km	[Twinning in progress]	West Portal
  5km	[2-lanes]		Yoho Bridge
 17km	[4-lanes divided]	Yoho NP Boundary
 46km	[2-lanes]		BC-AB Border

Code:

Van Island Total 116km:
 93km (80.2%) 4-lanes
 23km (19.8%) 2-lanes
 12km (10.3%) freeway
  2km ( 1.7%) under construction

Mainland Total 804km:
454km (56.5%) 4-lanes
350km (43.5%) 2-lanes
395km (49.1%) freeway
 23km ( 2.9%) under construction

BC Total 978km:
547km (56.0%) 4-lanes
373km (38.1%) 2-lanes
 58km ( 5.9%) ferry
407km (41.6%) freeway
 25km ( 2.6%) under construction

All segments rounded to the nearest km. To qualify as "freeway" requires the highway to be divided and have at least 2 interchanges in a row. This routing assume the use of Coquihalla instead of Fraser Canyon.

The first version was made 2 years ago, and I've just updated it to include the latest twinning. Seems like we've got 12 more km of twinned highway from the past 2 years, which gives an annual rate of 0.6% of the remaining 2-lanes sections... At this rate, we can expect it to be fully twinned by the summer of 2075

Calebb · #**519** Posted **Nov 18, 2011, 12:04 AM**

What they did to kicking horse canyon is crazy

Totally obliterated

MolsonExport · #**520** Posted **Nov 18, 2011, 2:09 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metro-One

If you love rock cuts, then you must love this section of the Kicking Horse Pass completed just 2 years ago I believe (Phase 2 of the project)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tranbc/sets/72157626547031288/

Lord almighty. Impressive. Why didn't they just tunnel instead?