Regina Construction III

[wacko]

Maybe it's just a season-opening announcement?

Originally Posted by micheal

According to the bank of canada governor, interest rates won't be going up any time soon. How many times have they said they will start going up and they announce that interest rates will stay the same? Quit a few times. If anything you might see a decrease.

Indeed, nothing lasts forever. However, an increase in interest rates would probably be predicated on economic gains and a rise in the inflation rate above 2%. Currently inflation in Canada is 1.5% and predicted to rise slightly, but it might not get much higher than 2%. Add to that the fact that U.S. economic growth keeps getting revised downwards, and maybe our interest rates won't rise for a little while yet.

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by SkydivePilot

Pretty close. I just know that the Plains Hospital opened in '73. And, the old main apron is still evident at the airport, as well, the cloverleaf is still under construction there.

The province ran out of money and both the Plains and the Centre of the Arts sat unfinished for a long time:

Plains Health Centre: Groundbreaking ceremonies were held on 9 July 1970, after nearly three years of intensive planning by the SSHC Board and its architects. The corner stone was laid on 8 November 1973 and the Centre was opened in 1974.

[UPP]

Originally Posted by thefourthtower

http://www.citiesjournal.com/top-16-cities-and-towns-to-move-to-in-canada/6/



[B]Top 16 Cities and Towns To Move To In Canada

11. Regina, Saskatchewan

That is a good picture of the city

Not so sure about that top 16 list. Winnipeg is 10th and one of the reasons listed for it being so desireable is it's low crime rate. Hmmmm....

[Festivus]

Okay, so I have noticed a big flaw in the Lewvan/#1 overpass and I was wondering if anyone else has as well. If you are heading south on Lewvan and want to go east on the #1, you are supposed to use the loop on the SW corner of the interchange, similar to the Albert/#1 interchange. However, it is actually faster to make a sharp left turn and use the SE corner on-ramp meant for north-bound traffic. I drew a little MS Paint picture to illustrate:



Basically, using the #1 route is about 5-10 seconds quicker than using the #2 route. This is because the on-ramp is basically a straight-line to accelerate the whole way, whereas the loop is limited in speed.

Has anyone else noticed this? It's not an issue at Albert St or any other interchange since those are divided roads, but in this case Lewvan is not divided south of the interchange so you can just make a sharp left turn. So I always use that path now and I can always end up ahead of the vehicles going through the loop. Seems like a silly oversight to make the wrong route faster than the right one.

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by Festivus

Okay, so I have noticed a big flaw in the Lewvan/#1 overpass and I was wondering if anyone else has as well. If you are heading south on Lewvan and want to go east on the #1, you are supposed to use the loop on the SW corner of the interchange, similar to the Albert/#1 interchange. However, it is actually faster to make a sharp left turn and use the SE corner on-ramp meant for north-bound traffic. I drew a little MS Paint picture to illustrate:



Basically, using the #1 route is about 5-10 seconds quicker than using the #2 route. This is because the on-ramp is basically a straight-line to accelerate the whole way, whereas the loop is limited in speed.

Has anyone else noticed this? It's not an issue at Albert St or any other interchange since those are divided roads, but in this case Lewvan is not divided south of the interchange so you can just make a sharp left turn. So I always use that path now and I can always end up ahead of the vehicles going through the loop. Seems like a silly oversight to make the wrong route faster than the right one.

It is the same at Pasqua and #11 interchange, but they eventually posted a sign making such a maneuver illegal. I am not sure if there is a sign at Lewvan and #1

Pasqua sign: https://www.google.ca/maps/@50.513012,-1...1!3m2!1s3l6ZvMG467G1WdAUKTCFdQ!2e0?hl=en

Edit: what you suggest at Lewvan would be an illegal left turn (crossing double centre line):

https://www.google.ca/maps/@50.394854,-1...1!3m2!1s1UKbSwCk-aS0j8d5ReXKng!2e0?hl=en

[North_Regina_Boy]

Yes it can be done. But 99.9% of drivers will never do that. I am also pretty sure that more than half of the drivers that use that interchange are unaware that the other ramp exists.

[Stormer]

Tower crane at the Legislature is being erected as we speak.

[Arts]

Originally Posted by Stormer

It is the same at Pasqua and #11 interchange, but they eventually posted a sign making such a maneuver illegal. I am not sure if there is a sign at Lewvan and #1

I used to make that left turn onto the Pasqua ramp all the time, used to get me into traffic on the hwy and up to speed much further ahead and more safely than the traffic using the loop. That little no left turn sign wouldn't really dissuade me either because it is not posted in correct position, and its not crossing a double yellow since there is already traffic that crosses at the intersection.

If the alignment were improved at Lewvan hwy 1 interchange it could be a better way to do it too - have no idea why they even bothered to build a loop, simple diamond would be better.

[Festivus]

Originally Posted by Arts

I used to make that left turn onto the Pasqua ramp all the time, used to get me into traffic on the hwy and up to speed much further ahead and more safely than the traffic using the loop. That little no left turn sign wouldn't really dissuade me either because it is not posted in correct position, and its not crossing a double yellow since there is already traffic that crosses at the intersection.

If the alignment were improved at Lewvan hwy 1 interchange it could be a better way to do it too - have no idea why they even bothered to build a loop, simple diamond would be better.

Yeah I don't understand the loop either since there are no plans to expand south of that interchange. However, I will say that the on-ramps and loop at that Lewvan interchange are the best in the city. They are very long and give ample time to speed up and merge.

[North_Regina_Boy]

Originally Posted by Arts

I used to make that left turn onto the Pasqua ramp all the time, used to get me into traffic on the hwy and up to speed much further ahead and more safely than the traffic using the loop. That little no left turn sign wouldn't really dissuade me either because it is not posted in correct position, and its not crossing a double yellow since there is already traffic that crosses at the intersection.

If the alignment were improved at Lewvan hwy 1 interchange it could be a better way to do it too - have no idea why they even bothered to build a loop, simple diamond would be better.

The loop is a safer / more effective design. Less wait times and the acceleration lane length is more than sufficient I am usually doing 100 before turning my indicator on.

If it was a diamond intersection then traffic would have to stop and wait at a red-light at turn. The loop was the most effective way to manage this intersection. Also it is illegal to make a left there. As the people turning to go NB on Lewvan are remaining on the road. If you turn left going SB you cross a double yellow and go off-road for a bit. If you wait till you are past that NB left turn area there is another double yellow. Don't justify an illegal maneuver by saying there is no double yellow here.

I am in no way able to tell you how to drive. But if you were to get hit making such a maneuver you would be 100% at fault. So why take the unnecessary risk when the safe route is 50 metres behind you?

That being said. Just drive the way your suppose to, take the loop, and everything will be fine. Does 5-10 seconds really hurt you? If it does maybe you should leave sooner?

[SkydivePilot]

Well, one place where a loop is necessary is at Wascana Parkway/Highway #1. (In order to turn from eastbound on W.P. to northbound on Hwy #1: and there's also room for one as well.)

[North_Regina_Boy]

Originally Posted by SkydivePilot

Well, one place where a loop is necessary is at Wascana Parkway/Highway #1. (In order to turn from eastbound on W.P. to northbound on Hwy #1: and there's also room for one as well.)

Yes that would be a good place. I saw a plan a while back that showed one being planned for that location. Would certainly make things MUCH easier!

[SkydivePilot]

Originally Posted by Stormer

The province ran out of money and both the Plains and the Centre of the Arts sat unfinished for a long time:

Plains Health Centre: Groundbreaking ceremonies were held on 9 July 1970, after nearly three years of intensive planning by the SSHC Board and its architects. The corner stone was laid on 8 November 1973 and the Centre was opened in 1974.

Thank you for clarifying that --- for I was running on memory from when I was a young kid. Lol! 'Too bad they shut it down, for it had awesome road access and 'was originally built with a helipad!!!

It is funny how governmental administrations regress over time with atavistic-minded follies.

[SkydivePilot]

Originally Posted by North_Regina_Boy

Yes that would be a good place. I saw a plan a while back that showed one being planned for that location. Would certainly make things MUCH easier!

Hmmm, that is good news that there is a loop planned for there. Alleluia!!!

Thanks!

[Festivus]

Originally Posted by North_Regina_Boy

The loop is a safer / more effective design. Less wait times and the acceleration lane length is more than sufficient I am usually doing 100 before turning my indicator on.

If it was a diamond intersection then traffic would have to stop and wait at a red-light at turn. The loop was the most effective way to manage this intersection. Also it is illegal to make a left there. As the people turning to go NB on Lewvan are remaining on the road. If you turn left going SB you cross a double yellow and go off-road for a bit. If you wait till you are past that NB left turn area there is another double yellow. Don't justify an illegal maneuver by saying there is no double yellow here.

I am in no way able to tell you how to drive. But if you were to get hit making such a maneuver you would be 100% at fault. So why take the unnecessary risk when the safe route is 50 metres behind you?

That being said. Just drive the way your suppose to, take the loop, and everything will be fine. Does 5-10 seconds really hurt you? If it does maybe you should leave sooner?

Regarding the Lewvan/#1 interchange, I've never seen a single vehicle ever coming north on that road. The only people who ever would are people using those storage places on the service road south of #1. So I don't feel like there is any danger doing it. I understand why it's illegal though, as theoretically there could be traffic (if Lewvan actually extended south of the bridge, which it doesn't).

Either way, I always find it interesting when road designers unintentionally make the proper route the less efficient one. Here's another great example:

I live in the modular Altern apartments at the corner of Lewvan and Parliament in Harbour Landing. The official way to get to them is to take Parliament to Harbour Landing Dr, and then take another left turn to loop back on Tutor Crt into the apartments. However, the office park they are building includes an internal roundabout (which I've coloured in) which connects Parliament/Tutor Crt to their parking lots. It's much quicker to cut through their internal roads than to take the public roads because it cuts off a few hundred meters of driving:



There's nothing illegal about this one, obviously, but it's far quicker than using the public roads.

In the same vein, people should look up "desire paths." It's when sidewalk/pathway designers make inefficient designs so people cut across grass instead. Very interesting to see different examples of where people will find more efficient routes (basically just straight lines when sidewalk/path designers make pretty-looking but inefficient loops and curves).

EDIT - Examples of desire paths:

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by Festivus

Yeah I don't understand the loop either since there are no plans to expand south of that interchange. However, I will say that the on-ramps and loop at that Lewvan interchange are the best in the city. They are very long and give ample time to speed up and merge.

Actually there is a country residential subdivision planned there.

[North_Regina_Boy]

Originally Posted by SkydivePilot

Hmmm, that is good news that there is a loop planned for there. Alleluia!!!

Thanks!

SDP here is where it is shown:

http://www.regina.ca/opencms/export/site...dia/pdf/regina_road_network_plan_map.pdf

[brithgob]

Originally Posted by North_Regina_Boy

SDP here is where it is shown:

http://www.regina.ca/opencms/export/site...dia/pdf/regina_road_network_plan_map.pdf

Just as long as you're aware there is neither money nor timeline for anything on that map. It's basically just a concept plan. It's also out of date, showing the earlier bypass alignment.

[North_Regina_Boy]

Originally Posted by brithgob

Just as long as you're aware there is neither money nor timeline for anything on that map. It's basically just a concept plan. It's also out of date, showing the earlier bypass alignment.

Yes I am aware of those facts. However at least it has been presented publicly and had some thought put into it (I can only hope)

[thefourthtower]

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