Highways in Canada

[sonysnob]

Originally Posted by manny_santos

How about the 412? I drove by it on the 401 yesterday and it seems like there's still tons of work to do. However I'm not an expert on how long these large interchanges take to build.

Still feels weird calling a highway "the 412".

I think the 401/412 interchange will definitely be completed by the fall. All of the concrete girders are up for the ramp from the 401 EB -> 412 NB, and the steel has been delivered, and is in the process of being erected for he ramp from the 412 SB -> 401 EB. There is a large stockpile of dirt adjacent to Lake Ridge Road just north of Rossland Road which I am assuming will be trucked to the future 412 interchange site soon to complete the fills for the overpass approaches. I don't drive either Hwy 2, Rossland or Taunton with any regularity so I am less certain of how the structures are progressing at any of those locations, but I know that things were well underway the last time I drove by in the spring.

[sonysnob]

More work planned on (ON) Hwy 400:

9. Description of Project:
This project consists of the detail design (currently at approximately 30% design completion stage) for the replacement of the 16th Sideroad Overpass bridges and reconstruction of the Highway 400/Lloydtown-Aurora Interchange to accommodate the ultimate 10-lane cross-section on Highway 400. The design includes the widening of Highway 400 in the vicinity of 16th Sideroad and Lloydtown-Aurora Road for traffic staging purposes. In addition, the design includes provisions for the ultimate 10-lane cross-section, paving of eight lanes to accommodate a buffer separated HOV lane in each direction in the vicinity of the Lloydtown/Aurora Road interchange. The TPM consultant shall utilise and take ownership of the previous detail design prepared up to approximately 30% stage of completion by another consultant. Construction of this project is expected to commence in 2017.
The TPM consultant shall be required to review and incorporate an existing pavement design report into the design of the project. If necessary, additional field investigations, soils and materials tests and pavement designs, shall be carried out as required to complete the design of the project.
As background, Highway 400 has been progressively widened from Highway 401 northerly to meet growing traffic demands. The widening of Highway 400 from north of Major Mackenzie to King Road is currently in detail design for 8 lanes (with grading for the ultimate 10-lane cross-section) to accommodate median HOV lanes and the interchange reconstruction of Highway 400/King Road has been completed.
A Preliminary Design Study documented the need for this project and a Transportation Environmental Study Report (TESR) was prepared and received environmental approval in June 2002. Consistent with the Class EA, a TESR Addendum has been prepared to document the proposed detail design changes and environmental impacts pertaining to the widening of Highway 400 and associated work from north of King Road Interchange to just north of 19th Sideroad (which includes the work proposed under this project). This TESR Addendum report was made available for a 30-day public and agency review period commencing March 26, 2015 and ending April 27, 2015. A Part II Order (i.e. “bump up”) request has been received and is currently being addressed. Clearance of the TESR Addendum is expected to be received prior to the start of this assignment.
This project is following the approved planning process for a Group ‘B’ project under the MTO Class Environmental Assessment (EA) for Provincial Transportation Facilities (2000). A Public Information Centre (PIC) was held for the widening of Highway 400 from north of King Road to north of the South Canal Bridges on December 6, 2011 and no additional PIC will be needed. A Design and Construction Report (DCR) will be prepared as part of this project to document environmental investigations, environmental impacts, and proposed mitigation measures. This document will be made available for public review upon completion of detail design.
Total Project Management (TPM) services are required including all project management and design services to complete detail design (currently at approximately the 30% design complete stage) and contract package preparation. The scope of work includes, but is not limited to, the following components: reconstruction of the Lloydtown/Aurora Road interchange including a new commuter parking lot; replacement of the 16th Sideroad overpass structures; improvements to roadside protection; rehabilitation of the asphalt pavement structure of the highway; traffic staging and/or detours to facilitate construction; overhead sign structures; upgrading /replacement of the existing drainage system; storm water management; high mast lighting and partial illumination, as applicable; and traffic signals.


10. Assignment approximate start and completion dates:
Pre-contract engineering phase: December 2015 to December 2016
Construction administration phase: (tentative timing) N/A

[MolsonExport]

Originally Posted by FrAnKs

My new video of the A20 / A73 / A440 to Quebec city. Enjoy !

• Video Link

all your videos are first-rate productions. Great attention to details, factoids, videography, and sound.

[Horus]

Originally Posted by sonysnob

More work planned on (ON) Hwy 400:

Since I only drive it about 2x per year now, and don't live in the area anymore -
Is the intention to extend HOV lanes all the way to Barrie or will they stop somewhere in-between (Hwy 9, Hwy 88, etc?)

[Innsertnamehere]

Eventually the HOVs are supposed to run all the way to the newly upgraded 6 lane highway 11. They will be built in phases though, as mentioned above. First phase will be to King Road, which by the sounds of it is imminent. The Davis Drive / Highway 9 interchange is getting rebuilt this summer, and now Aurora Rd, which should mean the highway is ready for the HOVs to go to Newmarket. I'm guessing we will see HOVs to King Road around 2020, to highway 9 in 2025ish, and sometime after that for further north.

[sonysnob]

Right now, preliminary designs are underway to determine an ultimate cross-section through Barrie. Three cross-sections are currently under consideration:

- 10 lane GPL with core-distributor through Barrie
- 10 lane GPL with simple configuration
- 8 lane GPL with 2 HOV lane (one each direction).

The study is proposed to be completed by the end of 2015

More information available here:
http://highway400improvements89to11.com/consultation-pic.html
http://highway400improvements89to11.com/...rmation%20Centre1%20Display%20Panels.pdf

[Horus]

Awesome - Thanks for the info guys

[FrAnKs]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

all your videos are first-rate productions. Great attention to details, factoids, videography, and sound.

Thank you for the kind comment dude !
It was very funny to do but was alot of work !

[Tone]

Originally Posted by FrAnKs

Thank you for the kind comment dude !
It was very funny to do but was alot of work !

So, Pierre Laporte is the longest non-tolled suspension bridge in the world, I didn't know that!

[FrAnKs]

Originally Posted by Tone

So, Pierre Laporte is the longest non-tolled suspension bridge in the world, I didn't know that!

Me too ! ... Until yesterday lol

[Tone]

Originally Posted by FrAnKs

Me too ! ... Until yesterday lol

How did you find out, wikipedia?

So we have the longest non-tolled suspension bridge in the world right next to the longest cantilever bridge in the world, not too shabby.

[FrAnKs]

Originally Posted by Tone

How did you find out, wikipedia?

So we have the longest non-tolled suspension bridge in the world right next to the longest cantilever bridge in the world, not too shabby.

Yes indeed, Wiki.

We could argue that it's also the longest suspension bridge in Canada over one of the longest river in the world containing 25% of the Fresh water on earth ... yes definitely not too shabby

[TownGuy]

One York and Harbour Plaza by Marcanadian, on Flickr

[sa230e]

^^^
I might be alone on this (at least on this site) but I'm really going to miss that ramp. It'll be really neat to drive when 10 York and Sun Life centre are done (if it's still there).

[ssiguy]

Are they tearing down that entire ramp?

[Innsertnamehere]

yup. replacing it with one that terminates at Simcoe instead and then widening Harbour street.

Tear down happens next summer, from my understanding.

[TownGuy]

I didn't know that either. What's the reasoning?

[Innsertnamehere]

It's pedestrian unfriendly and the circular ramp takes up a large plot of land that will be used for a new park. It makes the Gardiner feel really large. on what is probably the busiest cross street for pedestrians (York)

[WhipperSnapper]

Sounds good but, I can't help but think it's a financial move like the Gardiner Extension.

[Innsertnamehere]

no its a section 37 benefit project, not part of the general gardiner renovations. This has been in planning for years as a way to improve the public realm specifically.

The whole thing actually has a very large pricetag, It'll be one of the largest, if not the largest section 37 financed project in the city.