Highway 417 Widening

[TransitZilla]

Originally Posted by MoreTrains

I think the sidewalks were built too narrow for snow removal equipment, which is the issue.

For Eagleson, yes this is the problem. But I don't understand what the complaints are for the new Vanier overpass.

[1overcosc]

I also don't understand the complaints at Vanier. There's full size sidewalks there.

[rocketphish]

Construction activity along Westmount Ave. (aka the westbound Parkdale offramp from the Queensway). I'm not sure what these are going to be:





June 6, 2015
Photos by me

[1overcosc]

^ I've heard stuff about the interchange there being redesigned. Part of that work?

[HighwayStar]

Some answers might be in here:

http://queenswayexpansioneast.com/highwa...onal-improvements/reports-presentations/

[Radster]

Originally Posted by rocketphish View Post
Queensway to get extreme makeover
Province will replace, rebuild 12 downtown overpasses by 2019

By Emma Jackson
Ottawa East News, Jun 05, 2015

.........

The O-Train’s footings will be rebuilt, however, so the province will push the new bridge’s piers further back to leave room for a multi-use pathway on the west side.

http://www.ottawacommunitynews.com/n...reme-makeover/

...........


OK, so there is already a multi-use path on the East side, since when are they planning a path on the West side of the tracks now? You would expect them to instead say that they will push the bridge's piers back to leave room for double tracking the O-train.

[1overcosc]

Originally Posted by Radster

OK, so there is already a multi-use path on the East side, since when are they planning a path on the West side of the tracks now? You would expect them to instead say that they will push the bridge's piers back to leave room for double tracking the O-train.

They're doing that as well. We're getting room protected for both.

The city plans a pathway on each side of the tracks. The MTO initially said they were willing to pay for a design that protects for a second O-Train track but would make the city pay if they wanted room for a second pathway on the west side, which the city was unwilling to do.

This was the original design without the west side pathway:


It appears the MTO has changed their minds and are now building in room for a west side pathway as well.

[IntoTheCore]

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

It appears the MTO has changed their minds and are now building in room for a west side pathway as well.

The last time Eric Darwin wrote about this, the blame was placed solely on the city (source: http://www.westsideaction.com/qway-overpass-replacements-part-ii-notrain-pathway):

So why isn’t the west side path there?

Because the city didn’t ask for it, and indeed I hear one planner actually told the MTO it wasn’t necessary, because west side path users could cross over the OTrain cut at the Young Street bridge, and then recross it at Gladstone.

I'll be happy if everybody has actually now agreed to allow for the west-side path.

[harls]

This is not relevant to the 417 in Ottawa, but have any of you made the drive from Montreal to Ottawa during the night? the first few road signs before Hawkesbury have lost their lustre, and they don't reflect —-all. Will MTO replace them soon?


Quebec actually has done a lot of work on A-40 between the Ontario border and Hudson (it used to be quite a crappy road until recently!)

[rocketphish]

Originally Posted by HighwayStar

Some answers might be in here:

http://queenswayexpansioneast.com/highwa...onal-improvements/reports-presentations/

Thanks. I'm aware of the new offramp realignment and intersection project... I just don't know what those specific structures are that they are building. That level of detail doesn't show up in the posted presentations.

They could be some kind of foundation or retaining wall structure. I don't know.

[HighwayStar]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

Thanks. I'm aware of the new offramp realignment and intersection project... I just don't know what those specific structures are that they are building. That level of detail doesn't show up in the posted presentations.

They could be some kind of foundation or retaining wall structure. I don't know.

I'm sure you were aware of the project... I thought the answers might be buried in the "staging" docs or something.

[hwy418]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

Thanks. I'm aware of the new offramp realignment and intersection project... I just don't know what those specific structures are that they are building. That level of detail doesn't show up in the posted presentations.

They could be some kind of foundation or retaining wall structure. I don't know.

These appear to be the footings for the new noise barrier between Westmount Ave. and the new realigned ramp.

[TransitZilla]

Originally Posted by hwy418

These appear to be the footings for the new noise barrier between Westmount Ave. and the new realigned ramp.

Yes, the metal posts in the foreground appear to be for the noise wall; the foundations in the background appear to be for a retaining wall on the other side of where the ramp will be.

[westtoeastcommuter]

I've been looking online to try and figure out exact details and timelines but haven't found what I'm looking for and then I stumbled upon this thread and forum in general. Seems great!

Is there a website that gives up to date info on when the 417 widening will be finished? Last I heard was June, but I never saw the source, as is always the case. Can anyone help?

Second question - I've heard busses are soon going to be routed on the queensway. Does anyone know the exact routes and if traffic will get worse, or better, or stay the same (IE - will the completion of the widening be cancelled out by busses on the queensway?) I heard that busses will enter onto the 174 before Blair going eastbound? Will this make it difficult to exit at Blair? And currently westbound going from the 174 to the 417 is painful - any idea if this will be better/worse/the same after the widening is done and the busses are on the queensway?

Hopefully someone knows the answers! Thanks!

[MaxHeadroom]

Originally Posted by westtoeastcommuter

Is there a website that gives up to date info on when the 417 widening will be finished?

Second question - I've heard busses are soon going to be routed on the queensway. Does anyone know the exact routes and if traffic will get worse, or better, or stay the same

417 widening should be finished by end of June. There are signs up on the 417 indicating that exit 113A will be closed starting June 28, to allow the right lane of the 174 to be used as a bus lane without merging traffic going across it. Based on what I have seen on my daily commute, there is no reason they cannot meet that target.

OC Transpo has new route diagrams indicating how the bus routes will change, also happening on June 28. As far as exactly how the lane configuration will be made, both now for the temporary bus lanes, and in the future when the bus lanes are no longer needed, I have not been able to find anything concrete other than a blurry screenshot of a City Council powerpoint presentation. Without knowing that, tough to say how traffic overall will be impacted.

What is almost certain, is that things will be confusing for the first while as motorists get used to traffic pattern changes and coexisting on the highway with buses merging and changing lanes, particularly at the split going eastbound to Orleans. Probably will be accidents, too.

OCTranspo will undoubtedly be watching how things unfold very closely and might decide to make big changes to bus routing to keep things moving and on time come September.

[Harley613]

I'm very excited for three years from now when the extra lanes are no longer needed for buses.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by harls

This is not relevant to the 417 in Ottawa, but have any of you made the drive from Montreal to Ottawa during the night? the first few road signs before Hawkesbury have lost their lustre, and they don't reflect —-all. Will MTO replace them soon?


Quebec actually has done a lot of work on A-40 between the Ontario border and Hudson (it used to be quite a crappy road until recently!)

I realize it's a different project that road surface repairs but signage on the rural 417 is just so old, faded, crappy and just plain ugly even on the refurbished segments of highway.

But I find MTO 400-series signage ugly to begin with. Especially in Eastern Ontario.

[hwy418]

Originally Posted by Acajack

I realize it's a different project that road surface repairs but signage on the rural 417 is just so old, faded, crappy and just plain ugly even on the refurbished segments of highway.

But I find MTO 400-series signage ugly to begin with. Especially in Eastern Ontario.

Highway sign standards including reflectivity requirements and font type/size have changed in the past 5 or so years.

No surprise that urban freeways are getting the most attention when it comes to upgrades, but expect all signs to be changed at some point.

[rocketphish]

New Queensway bridge will have room for O-Train path
Ministry of Transportation alters replacement’s design in response to community

By Steph Willems
Ottawa West News, June 11, 2015

When the bridge that carries Highway 417 over the O-Train trench is replaced, the possibility of a second multi-use pathway will remain.

Many in the area had worried the project - part of the Ministry of Transportation’s planned rehabilitation of downtown Queensway bridges – would put an end to a long-sought, west-side O-Train pathway.

On June 3, Kitchissippi Coun. Jeff Leiper announced the MTO had responded to community requests by allocating land for this purpose. Leiper and Somerset Coun. Catherine McKenney had both written letters to the MTO asking for this, along with several residents.

“It’s certainly good news,” said Leiper. “A lot of us were surprised to see the bridge being proposed without space on the west side … This sends a strong signal that cycling infrastructure is just as important as road infrastructure.”

The downtown bridge project is an extensive campaign of rehabilitation and replacement targeting 23 bridge spans in 12 locations between Holland Avenue and O’Connor Street. The spans, which are nearing the end of their useful lifespan, will be repaired or replaced between 2018 and 2025.

At a Feb. 26 public open house, much focus was placed on the largest bridge slated for replacement. Currently a three-span crossing, the Queensway O-Train bridge is recommended to be replaced by a single span, with the bridge abutments enlarged and filled in. The MTO’s preferred option for replacement was deemed appealing for a variety of reasons - mainly, for its lower costs and minimized disruptions.

However, the plan didn’t leave any room for the path many had envisioned paralleling the multi-use pathway on the east side of the O-Train. A condo development proposed for 1040 Somerset St. included the possibility of a pathway corridor beginning at Somerset and running south towards the future Gladstone O-Train station and the Queensway bridge.

“They increased the length of the bridge span, with an abutment that would allow them to leave room for the path,” said Leiper. “My understanding is that it modestly increases costs for the province, though there will be offsets elsewhere. It’s not costing the city anything.”

Though the city has no immediate plan for a west-side pathway, having an open corridor for it allows community stakeholders and city planners to move forward on creating one.

Leiper said that it’s possible that Section 37 benefits could be leveraged to fund part of the project.

http://www.ottawacommunitynews.com/news-...-bridge-will-have-room-for-o-train-path/

[1overcosc]

Originally Posted by MaxHeadroom

417 widening should be finished by end of June. There are signs up on the 417 indicating that exit 113A will be closed starting June 28, to allow the right lane of the 174 to be used as a bus lane without merging traffic going across it. Based on what I have seen on my daily commute, there is no reason they cannot meet that target. will be confusing for the first while as motorists get used to traffic pattern changes and coexisting on the highway with buses merging and changing lanes, particularly at the split going eastbound to Orleans. Probably will be accidents, too.

I wonder if the highway project will be fully complete by June 28, or if it will just be complete enough for the new lanes to open, with some remaining work happening in certain spots perhaps with overnight lane closures.