Metro Vancouver Road Infrastructure Discussion - Page 149

logicbomb · #**2961** Posted **Dec 13, 2016, 10:06 PM**

The stupid AFB and Patullo cannot even handle traffic on good days anymore and it's quite apparent that we're severely lagging behind. This province definitely needs to invest in more infrastructure...cause all it takes is for one bridge incident to cripple the entire region. It was nice at least having a sense of redundancy 30 years ago, but we've seen absolutely no improvements in Delta/Richmond since then.

At a minimum, we should have build the GMB asap, but should also add multiple projects. Boundary Crossing, Tilbury-Richmond Crossing, and a port-to-port crossing in West Annacis Island.

officedweller · #**2962** Posted **Dec 13, 2016, 10:44 PM**

Quote:

Massey Tunnel replacement won't have ice bombs: B.C. government

Jennifer Saltman
Published on: December 13, 2016 | Last Updated: December 13, 2016 7:24 AM PST
...

According to the ministry, if a proposal for the new tunnel-replacement bridge involves cables, they’re not permitted to crossover traffic. The specifications also require that the contractor be responsible to ensure that snow and ice don’t fall onto the roadway from any elevated portion of the bridge above the deck and as a minimum require the builder to install cable collars similar to the Port Mann or “an improved alternative.”

When asked what other kind of mitigation could be used, Parkes said it remains to be seen what the emerging or proven technology will be at the time. “There hasn’t been lots, to be candid. We’re the only ones that have been able to keep a cable bridge open in a storm,” Parkes said, referring to the Port Mann and its cable collars.

The ministry stated that cable-supported bridges are used throughout the world, including in “much more aggressive” climates than ours.

Other cable-stayed bridges globally have had similar issues and required closures, including the Penobscot Narrows Bridge in Maine, Veterans Glass City Skyway Bridge in Ohio, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in Washington state, Uddevalla Bridge in Sweden, the Severn Bridges in the U.K. and Zakim Bridge in Boston.

Sensors, electromagnetic systems, heaters and special coatings have been employed with varying degrees of success. Most times, when ice buildup becomes an issue on a cable-stayed bridge, the bridge is closed.

http://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/massey-tunnel-replacement-wont-have-ice-bombs-govt

officedweller · #**2963** Posted **Dec 13, 2016, 11:51 PM**

Copied from the wrong thread:

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpongeG

they posted pictures the other day, i think they were from thursday, of crews prepping and clearing the bridge.

Crews prepare bridges for snow by Province of British Columbia, on Flickr

Bridge crews hard at work in anticipation of second snowfall by Province of British Columbia, on Flickr

and another pic:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/tranbc/with/31497763536/

Klazu · #**2964** Posted **Dec 14, 2016, 2:01 AM**

Are first two photos AFB and the latter three from PMB? That's what my eye is telling me.

jollyburger · #**2965** Posted **Dec 14, 2016, 2:17 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Klazu

Are first two photos AFB and the latter three from PMB? That's what my eye is telling me.

Yeah, they posted one of the first photos on some new article mentioning the AFB.

Stingray2004 · #**2966** Posted **Dec 14, 2016, 2:43 AM**

Yeah. The first two pics are from the AFB - the north (or south?) tower facing east (can see the SFPR in background snaking through North Delta toward Surrey).

I actually saw a fella doing the exact same thing on the AFB north tower cross-beam either last Wednesday/Thursday morning while heading NB over the AFB. Guy was waaaaay up there - very roughly 80 - 100 feet above deck-level and tethered.

Klazu · #**2967** Posted **Dec 14, 2016, 5:08 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by logicbomb

At a minimum, we should have build the GMB asap, but should also add multiple projects. Boundary Crossing, Tilbury-Richmond Crossing, and a port-to-port crossing in West Annacis Island.

It puzzles me why Burnaby especially is not pushing hard for the Boundary Road Bridge, as that would serve Burnaby's growing Downtown (Metrotown) if anything.

Currently the area and it's supported by Willingdon (which should be 6 lanes) from the north, Kingsway (which is only 4 lanes from the west) in west-east and Boundary Road from south. Both Knight Street Bridge and Queensborough Bridge are too far from Metrotown to serve it's traffic needs properly and too much traffic needs to spend time idling on on residential streets.

Very similar to entering Downtown Vancouver by car, but that's a different story...

Pinion · #**2968** Posted **Dec 14, 2016, 5:33 AM**

Boundary road bridge at the north end too please. I've gone from Canada Way and Willingdon to Lonsdale at 5pm twice in the last two days - first time took 20 minutes, with almost half of that 20 being waiting to turn onto Willingdon, second time today took 50.

Pinion · #**2969** Posted **Dec 16, 2016, 7:40 AM**

Keith road bridge is finally open as of this afternoon!

Not sure why the NVanDistrict twitter told me Spring just yesterday.

I've been driving this way to work lately so I can comment on if it affects the morning rush tomorrow.

Pinion · #**2970** Posted **Dec 17, 2016, 1:54 AM**

The good news is the usual Keith Road traffic jam was completely non-existent this morning and looks great this evening. The bad news is... the rest of the north shore is still a mess for anyone trying to leave. Right now (6pm... ie not the worst time):

Sheba · #**2971** Posted **Dec 17, 2016, 2:58 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Klazu

It puzzles me why Burnaby especially is not pushing hard for the Boundary Road Bridge, as that would serve Burnaby's growing Downtown (Metrotown) if anything.

Currently the area and it's supported by Willingdon (which should be 6 lanes) from the north, Kingsway (which is only 4 lanes from the west) in west-east and Boundary Road from south. Both Knight Street Bridge and Queensborough Bridge are too far from Metrotown to serve it's traffic needs properly and too much traffic needs to spend time idling on on residential streets.

Very similar to entering Downtown Vancouver by car, but that's a different story...

I seem to remember someone bringing up that exact same route (Tilbury, through Richmond to Boundary) before - it didn't make sense to not exist then either. Is Richmond against it (which also wouldn't make sense)? Maybe with the Draft Metrotown Downtown Plan we should all suggest it the next time they ask for comments.

jollyburger · #**2972** Posted **Dec 17, 2016, 3:02 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheba

I seem to remember someone bringing up that exact same route (Tilbury, through Richmond to Boundary) before - it didn't make sense to not exist then either. Is Richmond against it (which also wouldn't make sense)? Maybe with the Draft Metrotown Downtown Plan we should all suggest it the next time they ask for comments.

Reader suggestion

http://www.richmond-news.com/opinion/let...er-route-for-new-bridge-tunnel-1.2159917

Stingray2004 · #**2973** Posted **Dec 17, 2016, 4:06 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Reader suggestion

http://www.richmond-news.com/opinion/let...er-route-for-new-bridge-tunnel-1.2159917

Very plausible that the foregoing will actually come to fruition perhaps 2 or 3 decades out. Right now you would have folk yelling and screaming about damage to the ALR. Par for the course.

Klazu · #**2974** Posted **Dec 17, 2016, 5:58 AM**

Tilbury Island Bridge would need to be tall just like AFB and GMB, which means expensive and maybe 15-20 years out. But the bridge over the northern Fraser River would be cheap. It would need to be 6 lanes to make any sense, but it would be a big relief for the traffic.

On that note, also 91 through Richmond should already be 6 lanes as it's an important east-west connector.

MIPS · #**2975** Posted **Dec 17, 2016, 6:09 AM**

Why not build a six lane tunnel under the river?

jollyburger · #**2976** Posted **Dec 17, 2016, 6:33 AM**

6 lane swing bridge?

Sheba · #**2977** Posted **Dec 19, 2016, 6:25 PM**

I wonder if we could convince Elon Musk to build some tunnels here...?

officedweller · #**2978** Posted **Dec 20, 2016, 12:09 AM**

The southern portion of that was evaluated back in 2014.

Reports here - see "Scenario 5" - retain Massey Tunnel and build new bridge in new corridor:

http://engage.gov.bc.ca/masseytunnel/fil...rch_Evaluation-of-Crossing-Scenarios.pdf

http://engage.gov.bc.ca/masseytunnel/files/2015/06/GMT-2014-March_Summary-Report.pdf

Quote:

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Reader suggestion

http://www.richmond-news.com/opinion/let...er-route-for-new-bridge-tunnel-1.2159917

MIPS · #**2979** Posted **Dec 20, 2016, 1:37 AM**

Word is the chains were released on the Port Mann this morning and several got stuck partway down.

jollyburger · #**2980** Posted **Dec 20, 2016, 2:08 AM**

AFB interim solution:

Quote:

The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure said in a press release that “if snow and ice accumulates and engineers determine there is a risk to public safety, the ministry will deploy the helicopter. The rotors will create strong blasts of wind that will blow the snow accumulations off the cables.”

http://www.canadianunderwriter.ca/insura...uver-area-bridge-cables-snow-1004105595/