Metro Vancouver Road Infrastructure Discussion

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by CanSpice

If they remove sidewalks from the Alex Fraser Bridge, as Minister Stone suggested, then how will cyclists get across? My cyclist friends say it's relatively heavily used to get across the Fraser.

Would it be possibleto build exterior sidewalk / bike decks, as on the LGB north end? That might work.

[CanSpice]

Originally Posted by trofirhen

Would it be possibleto build exterior sidewalk / bike decks, as on the LGB north end? That might work.

You replied before I edited my post. The sidewalks are currently on the outside of the cable stays so I'm not sure how removing them will help in adding a vehicle lane.

[moosejaw]

They should use that seventh lane for rapid transit


joking lol

[Bdawe]

Oh joy, the province is trying to ream more cars into the next set of choke points beyond the Alex Fraser Bridge. What could go wrong!

[makr3trkr]

There does appear to be some room BETWEEN the cables and the existing barrier, NOT outside the cables (that would be retained)

[makr3trkr]

http://www.news1130.com/2017/01/19/counterflow-system-coming-soon-alex-fraser-bridge/
by NEWS 1130 Staff
Posted Jan 19, 2017 10:19 am PST

“A seventh lane will be added to the bridge by slightly narrowing the six existing lanes and removing the shoulders. A movable barrier will be added to allow four lanes of traffic northbound during the morning rush hour. It would then be re-positioned to allow four lanes southbound for the afternoon rush hour where it will remain for the rest of the day,” the federal government says in a statement.

The speed limit on the bridge is also being lowered from 90 km/h to 70 km/h because of the increased number of lanes. This move is also part of a greater strategy to relieve congestion on Highway 91, including a new interchange at 72nd Avenue to remove the last set of lights.

============

If the government was serious about relieving congestion on Highway 91, they would widen the stretch between Nelson and 6 Road, which is frequently one of the worst congested spots in the region:

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

Originally Posted by makr3trkr

The speed limit on the bridge is also being lowered from 90 km/h to 70 km/h

grr. that isnt annoying at all, it isnt like 90km/h was lower for that bridge then it should have been anyways.

Originally Posted by makr3trkr

If the government was serious about relieving congestion on Highway 91, they would widen the stretch between Nelson and 6 Road, which is frequently one of the worst congested spots in the region:

yes they should, the overpasses along the 91 have been built to accommodate 6 lanes of traffic, it would be cheap and easy to do. have the extra lanes be dedicated to and from knight street to make it easy.

[libtard]

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

grr. that isnt annoying at all, it isnt like 90km/h was lower for that bridge then it should have been anyways.



yes they should, the overpasses along the 91 have been built to accommodate 6 lanes of traffic, it would be cheap and easy to do. have the extra lanes be dedicated to and from knight street to make it easy.

The nelson road overpass was not built to accommodate any extra lanes.

[libtard]

Originally Posted by Stingray2004

Yeah, BC MoTI has jurisdiction over the Oak Street Bridge. To preface, for decades the OSB has been notorious for small/large potholes on the bridge deck during winter months when we have constant freezing/thawing periods. The overlying asphalt pavement never seems to adhere properly to the underlying concrete deck. Looking at the short/long-term weather forecasts, the OSB bridge deck looks like it will become brutalized even further into February.

BTW, I just put a social media note out to BC MoTI on this matter and they typically respond back within a decent time-frame. Suspect (hoping) that pothole repair with "cold mix" will occur relatively shortly as I'm sure other motorists are complaining as well (including me).

This is not the problem, please don't make excuses for the potholes and blame the bridge, the problem is the MoTI. Those potholes have been covered recently by a tiny square patch of asphalt. That's what they've done for years and now look at the bridge deck its a pathetic tapestry of patches. They need to lay down asphalt for the entire bridge deck and that would solve the problem. Also since those first potholes have been patched, brand new massive holes have popped up again. And they'll just keep doing tiny patches and the cycle will continue.

[connect2source]

Hence the OSB continues to be one of the most embarrassing entry points to any city in North America.

[trofirhen]

Vancouver's road system, with rare exception, is one of the most underbuilt in North America.
With rare exception, they can't seem to count above four lanes. I remember spending an hour jammed in gridlock oh Highway 91 in Richmond. It's supposed to be a freeway.
Getting from downtown to Highway 1 is a hassle, cutting through neighbourhoods on arterial roads. This causes some drivers to cut through residential districts.
Subways, trams, busses, are all great, if they can get the job sone. But inching through busy, noisy, stop-go-stop-go traffic, and seeing people cutting through residential streets, where there are often children playing or riding bikes, is just too much.

[WarrenC12]

Who is responsible for the Knight and Oak St. Bridges? MOTI? They are full of potholes, STILL.

[Bdawe]

Vancouver's road network is not underbuilt. It is undertaxed.

It is undertaxed relative to the local, regional, and global costs of mass-motordom. They are undertaxed compared to the damage to commerce, to affordability, to neighborhoods and to individuals. These costs don't go away because you put yourself into a traffic jam

[s211]

Originally Posted by libtard

This is not the problem, please don't make excuses for the potholes and blame the bridge, the problem is the MoTI. Those potholes have been covered recently by a tiny square patch of asphalt. That's what they've done for years and now look at the bridge deck its a pathetic tapestry of patches. They need to lay down asphalt for the entire bridge deck and that would solve the problem. Also since those first potholes have been patched, brand new massive holes have popped up again. And they'll just keep doing tiny patches and the cycle will continue.

I swear they fill the potholes with oatmeal.

[Pinion]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Who is responsible for the Knight and Oak St. Bridges? MOTI? They are full of potholes, STILL.

I went over a huge one on Powell that's been there for two days now. Was worried about my car being able to function immediately after.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by Pinion

I went over a huge one on Powell that's been there for two days now. Was worried about my car being able to function immediately after.

You can report in CoV on VanConnect or 311.

[LeftCoaster]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

You can report in CoV on VanConnect or 311.

Was just going to say this. Call 311. They usually do something when you do.

[Mininari]

So, we'll have 10 lanes on the new George Massey Bridge, and 7 lanes (shoehorned) on the Alex Fraser Bridge... this will equate to 9 lanes northbound during the morning rush hour, and 8 northbound during the evening rush hour.

Meanwhile the OSB, KSB, ad QBB all have 2 lanes northbound, for a total of 6.

This math... doesn't make sense. How exactly can the ministry justify unplugging two major chokepoints crossing onto an ISLAND, without accounting for the additional demand that will be placed on the North Arm Crossings?

Don't get me wrong, I want to see capacity improvements across the South Arm, and am cautiously optimistic the new AFB will function fine (apparently the new lanes will be 0.1M wider than they are on the Second Narrows Bridge, and it functions ok). I am just wondering if anyone is going to step up and discuss adding capacity to one of the three North Arm crossings, or adding a fourth crossing. I'm sorry, I don't buy the argument that the majority of traffic is going to stay in Richmond... housing prices are pushing growing families to find larger spaces far away from the income earner(s) places of employment, hence there will be plenty of commuters heading to DT Vancouver or elsewhere on the Burrard Peninsula. (Maybe more park and ride space by the Canada Line?)

The comment above about widening the East-West Connector to 6 lanes (please tell me the Nelson Overpass could accommodate it somehow...) made me wonder how the new counterflow laning will be handled at either end of the AFB. Will it simply be 2 lanes to 91, 2 lanes to 91A? 2 lanes to 91 Southbound and 2 lanes to Nordel? Or are we going to see some widening on 91 on either side of the bridge to accommodate the extra traffic volumes?

Well, whatever happens, as long as they upgrade that ridiculous single, short left turn lane for SFPR traffic accessing the AFB northbound at Nordel. Wow, what an embarrassment that is.

[Marshal]

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

grr. that isnt annoying at all, it isnt like 90km/h was lower for that bridge then it should have been anyways.



yes they should, the overpasses along the 91 have been built to accommodate 6 lanes of traffic, it would be cheap and easy to do. have the extra lanes be dedicated to and from knight street to make it easy.

In this instance, I doubt it will happen in our lifetimes, but we should remember that necessary upgrades can easily include new overpasses and the like. It is a difficult call when it comes to paying in the present for overbuilding-ready-for future expansion. We couldn't even get the SFPR built properly and fully, let alone accommodating its eventual widening in 20 some years.

[Alex Mackinnon]

Originally Posted by Marshal

In this instance, I doubt it will happen in our lifetimes, but we should remember that necessary upgrades can easily include new overpasses and the like. It is a difficult call when it comes to paying in the present for overbuilding-ready-for future expansion. We couldn't even get the SFPR built properly and fully, let alone accommodating its eventual widening in 20 some years.

What are you talking about? He's saying everything was built to accommodate 6 lanes already on the 91. I think the preload is already there already as well.

Why would that be so hard to build? Just paving and painting is pretty easy and cheap.