Highways in Canada

[Pinion]

Originally Posted by swimmer_spe

Like the Port Mann Bridge?

What would have happened if 2 MONTHS after opening, the bridge failed??

We'd all celebrate our separation from Surrey and turn into an official City State a la Hong Kong.

[swimmer_spe]

Originally Posted by Pinion

We'd all celebrate our separation from Surrey and turn into an official City State a la Hong Kong.

It's name will officially be known as Hongcouver

[ssiguy]

It already is.

[Blease]

Originally Posted by Pinion

We'd all celebrate our separation from Surrey and turn into an official City State a la Hong Kong.

Wow, you make snarky remarks like this, then throw a hissy fit when somebody calls you on it. Just saying.

[middeljohn]

Originally Posted by Kokkei Mizu

Some time lapse videos I uploaded recently, I thought you guys might like:

403 Through Hamilton, Burlington, and Oakville. This was filmed 7 years ago, so sorry for the somewhat crappy quality...

• Video Link


And the 401 through Windsor with the newly opened sections. (Filmed this summer).

• Video Link

Didn't realize the new 401 section is complete already. Looks good.

I still maintain that the upgraded section of the QEW going through Oakville and Burlington is the best-designed freeway in Canada. I remember before the upgrades that section was almost constantly jammed up. Since the upgrades however it's only jammed up for a few hours in the morning and again in the evening. The decision to have the on-ramp continue to the next interchange and become the off-ramp there has really freed things up. Also the new design of the QEW-403 split at Brant St.

[SignalHillHiker]

Gave in and got a GoPro. Tried taking a video like you, Franks. Not up to speed on the effects and all that yet, but anyhow... here's the entire ring road, from the White Hills, to the Outer Ring Road, to the Harbour Arterial.

Starts and ends basically where "St. John's" is written in the map below.



• Video Link

[Metro-One]

Well, here are some very interesting proposals for the highway 99 upgrades / George Massey Bridge proposed in metro Vancouver.

Here are three of the interchanges involved.

First, is the upgrade to be done to the SFPR (highway 17 interchange).

Picture 5 by Ian, on Flickr


Next, and more impressive, will be the south approach interchange with the old Highway 17 which leads into South Delta.

Please note the roundabouts, flyover, and the centre median bus station.

Picture 4 by Ian, on Flickr

And now, best for last, this could become one of Canada most interesting interchanges.

Here is the north approach interchange, also with a centre median bus station and it looks triple staked. (the second pic is a close up view)

Picture 1 by Ian, on Flickr

Picture 1_2 by Ian, on Flickr

I am really hoping this project goes through, as it is a very compact, modern designed freeway with what could be great rapid bus infrastructure (bus only ramps will be on the north end of the project accessing Bridgeport Skytrain Station).

Cheers!

[bardak]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

Next, and more impressive, will be the south approach interchange with the old Highway 17 which leads into South Delta.

Please note the roundabouts, flyover, and the centre median bus station.

Picture 4 by Ian, on Flickr

They seemed to have made decent bus stations on highway 99 but it is hard to tell how you are supposed to get to the station on a connecting bus from 17a or riverroad. It look like if I want to transfer from the 601 northbound to the 351 southbound I would have to take the bus all the way to Stevenson.

[sonysnob]

That's quite the proposal for BC-99. The Stevenson Road interchange in particular is quite something. It's amazing how small the proposed interchange footprint is for such an interchange. Though the Stevenson is on a considerably smaller scale, the interchange is actually fairly similar to the old Turcot interchange in Montreal.

[FrAnKs]

I made a coproduction with Trans-Canada-Phil, another roadgeek.
It is featuring Québec city freeways at dusk. Enjoy !

• Video Link

[Innsertnamehere]

new aerial images of the 407 Extension have been posted on the projects website, dated from December. The highway looks almost complete:

The new pavement meets the existing 407 (which badly needs to be repaved)



bridge structures approaching the Brock Road interchange:



The new 407 / 412 interchange:



The Lakeridge Road interchange:



Lakeridge road and how it interacts with the 412 interchange:



looking west from the 412 interchange towards Brooklin:



Coronation Road overpasses:



Westney Road overpass looking west:



The Sideline 14, Highway 7, and Brock Road bridges, looking southwest towards downtown:



The new Brock Road interchange. Note the new Park and Ride lot to the south of the interchange (top of the image), which includes a new bus terminal as well:

[haljackey]

Cool aerials!

Some new aerials from the 401 extension in Windsor:


https://www.flickr.com/photos/hgparkway/

[milomilo]

Ontario appears to be the only province that knows how to build roads. But what are all those 'tunnels' for in Windsor?

[Pinion]

Originally Posted by Blease

Wow, you make snarky remarks like this, then throw a hissy fit when somebody calls you on it. Just saying.

It was a light hearted joke.

I objected to you questioning my ability to comment on development policies because the condo I owned for 10+ years went down in value this year. You're part of the reason Surreyites are known as overly defensive and insecure.

[sa230e]

Originally Posted by milomilo

Ontario appears to be the only province that knows how to build roads. But what are all those 'tunnels' for in Windsor?

They reduce the noise and environmental impact of the Herb Gray Parkway as well as tie together neighborhoods severed by the highway. When the landscaping is done the tunnel tops will be parks.

The tunnels are the result of a compromise between the city and the MTO. The MTO originally wanted to build a no-frills 6 lane highway through the city. The city wanted the highway to be tunneled to minimize disruption. The MTO basically met them half way.

Sort of an abridged history, the whole ordeal actually took like 15 years to get sorted out, but that's the gist of it.

[ssiguy]

It's a great looking road and ya, Ontario seems to do highways well.

Does the 401 now go right to the Ambassador Bridge?

[eemy]

Nope. It will connect to the planned Gordie Howe Bridge, though.

[MolsonExport]

Fine-looking expressway extensions (407 and EC Row).

[MoreTrains]

The 407 extension is such a waste. Im assuming they are expanding the fare paid area. And also assuming that the ownership will be handed over to the 407ETR gang who are supposed to toll and maintain it. How much usage does the 407 see daily anyways?
I think the money would have been better spent further north in say, Renfrew County extending the 417.

As for the 401 extension in Windsor, it seems to be an innovative approach to keeping communities together. Too bad they didnt think about that when they built every highway through Ottawa / Toronto.

[swimmer_spe]

Originally Posted by MoreTrains

The 407 extension is such a waste. Im assuming they are expanding the fare paid area. And also assuming that the ownership will be handed over to the 407ETR gang who are supposed to toll and maintain it. How much usage does the 407 see daily anyways?
I think the money would have been better spent further north in say, Renfrew County extending the 417.

As for the 401 extension in Windsor, it seems to be an innovative approach to keeping communities together. Too bad they didnt think about that when they built every highway through Ottawa / Toronto.

Before the extension, Highway 407 ended with no freeway link to the 401. Building this extension makes sense. Even if this is the furthest it goes, it gets people back on to the 401 without going through slow areas.

Extending the 417 is needed, but, really, the GTA has some serious congestion.

The 407 is supposed to stay in Ontario government hands.