Highways in Canada

[sonysnob]

I took a couple of photos of the 407 today on a hazy day in Toronto to show the progress of the widening work between Hwys 400 and 404.

I've included some old pics for comparison purposes:

From the Dufferin Avenue overpass:

West in 2004:

2012:


East in 2004:

An intermediary in 2006:

2012:


From Leslie Street:
Looking West in 2012. The shoulder lane is paved here:


East:
2004:

2011:

2012:


Work seems to be progressing quickly... the new lanes will likely be ready in a couple of weeks.

[ssiguy]

They have completely ruined Ontario 400 series roadways. Those huge concrete blocks down the medien make your entire trip seem like you are drving in a tunnel. They should use the old fashion kind that aren't a solid concrete monster like the heavy wires or steel ones. I've also noticed the the concrete mediens everywhere else are shorter than Ontario's which are very high.
Driving thru Ontario is a ghastly affair where half of the scenery is blocked and you feel you are driving up against a wall for hours on end.

[DrJoe]

Seriously? I'll take the option that can actually stop things.

[haljackey]

Ontario uses it's own concrete 'tall wall' type barrier which is different than the "Jersey Barrier" found in the US and other places in the world.

I believe while it is taller, it is not as reinforced as the Jersey barrier. Not sure which one is cheaper.

I for one like them. I feel much safer with them on the highway, especially due to many highways (401 in particular) being heavy truck routes.



Cool pics of the 407! I wonder if the centre lane will be asphalt... then maybe they'll coat the rest of the lanes in asphalt too to give it a uniform look.

[eemy]

I far prefer the tall wall over the metal barriers mainly because it blocks the lights of on-coming traffic to an extent.

[Mister F]

You don't need a concrete wall to block oncoming headlights. The green extensions on the Gardiner median in Toronto do a good job without the tunnel feeling.

[haljackey]

If only this was reality:



Or this

[Pimpmasterdac]

I don't think premier Dad would approve

Maybe a change of government would help get some objective look at raising the limits in Ontario

[Metro-One]

Is their anywhere in Canada that has varying speeds for weather conditions? I loved n japan where they would have digital speed limit signs that would change depending on upcoming congestion.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

Is their anywhere in Canada that has varying speeds for weather conditions? I loved n japan where they would have digital speed limit signs that would change depending on upcoming congestion.

Weather-related I have not seen. I know some places you have night time speed limits which are lower - on the Prairies for sure and maybe in Ontario also.

[sonysnob]

Ontario's concrete barriers certainly are a sharp contrast from the treed median along Autoroute 73 that was pictured at the beginning of Franks' movie.

In talking about barriers, I much prefer a wide grassed median in lieu of a concrete wall as well. But, in the case of an urban road such as the 407, the choice seems to be between not widening the highway and therefore not installing a barrier, vs. widening the highway and adding a wall. I'll choose a congestion free highway every time given that choice.

[Metro-One]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Weather-related I have not seen. I know some places you have night time speed limits which are lower - on the Prairies for sure and maybe in Ontario also.

oh yeah? that makes sense. In BC all I have seen is different limits for cars and trucks (especially in the interior highways through the mountains)

[go_leafs_go02]

Variable speeds don't exist in Canada at this point. I'd love to see them, and I'm sure you'll see some be introduced along some roadways that have some extreme weather events in time (Coquihala in BC, snow belts in Ontario).

Seattle has them on I-5 for congestion reduction, while I know Wyoming has them for weather events - and trust me, they help when you suddenly drive into a whiteout with restricted visibility.

[Acajack]

Still not weather-related but some places in Ontario and Quebec have reduced speeds in school zones that indicate a lowering of the limit (from 50 to 40 or 30) with flashing lights when kids are walking to and from school.

[Wharn]

Originally Posted by haljackey

If only this was reality:

Personally, I would much prefer something like this:



Seriously, unless your car (or the tires it runs on) is complete rubbish, it should be able to maintain this speed quite safely in good daytime weather. But as Pimpmasterdac said, not likely it'll happen under premier Dad, since he thinks this is "stunt driving". I don't know why. The safety aspect is pretty much a moot point; at speeds above 90, your chances of surviving a collision are already so slim it doesn't even matter. It's really an issue of driver skill and control; in my experience, Ontarians are frighteningly unaware of the limits of their vehicles or their own abilities.

Originally Posted by Metro-One

Is their anywhere in Canada that has varying speeds for weather conditions? I loved n japan where they would have digital speed limit signs that would change depending on upcoming congestion.

If I wanted to be realistic about short-term goals, I think a variable 130/110/100 limit would be a good place to start. The problem is it would be a fortune to upgrade all the limit signs along 400-series highways to digital ones, and since the Province bankrupted itself over the past couple years, that's also unlikely to happen.

[Symz]

A lot of 4 cylinder cars begin to feel squirrel-y at 150kph.

[sonysnob]

Speed limits will never be raised in Ontario. There was pressure during Harris' era as premier and they didn't do anything either. The current government has bigger fish to fry than speed limits. The slow collapse of Ontario's manufacturing sector hasn't done the provincial coffers any favours.

[The_Architect]

There are enough bad drivers on the 401 and 403, I'd hate to see what they'd do with the speed limit raised to 150..

[haljackey]

Originally Posted by The_Architect

There are enough bad drivers on the 401 and 403, I'd hate to see what they'd do with the speed limit raised to 150..

...And the thing is Canadian drivers are among the safest in the world. If you think we drive bad, I'd hate to see just how much worse drivers are in other countries.

150 seems too fast for me. 400-series have a design speed of 130 in most sections, so that should be the desired speed limit. Although I am happy to compromise with 120.

Originally Posted by sonysnob

Speed limits will never be raised in Ontario. There was pressure during Harris' era as premier and they didn't do anything either. The current government has bigger fish to fry than speed limits. The slow collapse of Ontario's manufacturing sector hasn't done the provincial coffers any favours.

Never underestimate the power of social media. That wasn't around during Harris' era. Support has been building up, and it may actually lead to something being changed.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by haljackey

...And the thing is Canadian drivers are among the safest in the world. If you think we drive bad, I'd hate to see just how much worse drivers are in other countries.

Interestingly enough, people here have the impression that for example in Germany you can drive as fast as you want because Germans are simply better drivers. For having driven there quite a bit, it is simply not true. They are just as bad or good as anyone else. Plus, half the drivers on most of the main autobahns aren't even German anyway, but French, Dutch, British, Austrian, Belgian, Czech, you name it.