[St. John's] Transport development (Highways, Airport, and Public Transit)

[jjavman]

http://ntv.ca/province-to-maintain-t...ng-approaches/

[goodgrowth]

Originally Posted by jjavman

Looking at that concrete divider makes me wonder why that wasn't done on the non-median sections of Columbus. i.e. Blackmarsh, South to Topsail Rd?
Or could easily be done as a retro fit?

Probably because Columbus Dr isn't a "highway".

Though after seeing some of the turns/slopes on this new part of the TGH extension I wonder if you will really even be able to drive at true highway speeds on it... I guess with guardrails installed it won't be so bad.

[Offshore1]

Originally Posted by jjavman

http://ntv.ca/province-to-maintain-t...ng-approaches/

The ministers comments on future construction of the TGH are mind boggling. He's actually uncertain if there'll be any actual work vs. planning or a "paper exercise" next year.
Like, couldn't the "paper exercise" commence Now so physical work can begin next year?

[jjavman]

Originally Posted by goodgrowth

Probably because Columbus Dr isn't a "highway".

Though after seeing some of the turns/slopes on this new part of the TGH extension I wonder if you will really even be able to drive at true highway speeds on it... I guess with guardrails installed it won't be so bad.

Similar to just east of Corner Brook on TCH.
Drivable, but can sure give you the willies at highway speed and a high wind, while hugging that divider.

[rthomasd]

St. John's City Council has a tender item in Monday's meeting agenda for the Blackmarsh Rd Re-alignment for approx $ 498,000 to Weir's Construction.

The covering info sheet says "The project ... requires completion prior to the Province opening the Team Gushue Highway"

That sounds like a pretty tight timeline.

[J_Murphy]

Originally Posted by rthomasd

St. John's City Council has a tender item in Monday's meeting agenda for the Blackmarsh Rd Re-alignment for approx $ 498,000 to Weir's Construction.

The covering info sheet says "The project ... requires completion prior to the Province opening the Team Gushue Highway"

That sounds like a pretty tight timeline.

Here is a link to the drawings for the work: https://bids.stjohns.ca/Module/Tende...1-0b76de50646a

It is a tight timeline, but not really that big of a scope of work.

[rthomasd]

Do you know if the contractor bids are online? What timeframe did Weir's give for completion, given that theirs only perhaps 5 or 6 weeks left in the construction season. If this little project is on the critical path does it mean TGH can't open if this project causes a delay?

[rthomasd]

Such a beautiful day today, so an update on TGH progress.

They are actually paving today, Sunday !
Light standards are going up, Kenmount south to Old Pennywell mostly done, a few gaps to Redmonds Rd and then almost to Blackmarsh.












They appear to be finishing up the last layers of the pavement. First layer of pavement for the Redmonds Rd ramp and margins are done.

Topsail Rd onramp looks ready to be paved, needs concrete divider and lightpole work though.

No sign of any guardrail activity.

Brier Ave ready to be paved, at least to the Old Pennywell Rd connection - I believe the City is doing the actual linkage but haven't seen a tender for that yet.

[Offshore1]

Great pics.
There is progress being made, even if it's seemingly in dribs and drabs. Hopefully the weather cooperates for the remainder of the work scope for fall.

[jjavman]

Originally Posted by rthomasd

Such a beautiful day today, so an update on TGH progress.

Nice snaps!

[Architype]

Nice, but no sidewalks or bike lanes, seriously?

Those median barriers will make the whole experience rather unpleasant.

[Engibeer]

Originally Posted by Architype

Nice, but no sidewalks or bike lanes, seriously?

Those median barriers will make the whole experience rather unpleasant.

Well, this is considered a "highway" although that may be debatable.

Regardless, to my knowledge we have never added bike lanes or sidewalks to a highway. Even in a city like Calgary, you don't see bike lanes alongside Deerfoot Trail/Macleod Trail/Crowfoot. It just isn't safe. Their bike paths crisscross the main roadways with overpasses or follow parallel at a few hundred meters away which is not possible in this instance.

I would say the median barriers make any highway much safer. My opinion is that pleasantries are rather irrelevant when you're driving 100 km/h for less than 10 minutes (max).

[wmemeadusjr]

Originally Posted by Engibeer

Well, this is considered a "highway" although that may be debatable.

Regardless, to my knowledge we have never added bike lanes or sidewalks to a highway. Even in a city like Calgary, you don't see bike lanes alongside Deerfoot Trail/Macleod Trail/Crowfoot. It just isn't safe. Their bike paths crisscross the main roadways with overpasses or follow parallel at a few hundred meters away which is not possible in this instance.

I would say the median barriers make any highway much safer. My opinion is that pleasantries are rather irrelevant when you're driving 100 km/h for less than 10 minutes (max).

I agree on both points.

[Marty_Mcfly]

Guys, the is there for a reason hahaha.

Highway looks like it should be ready to go by the end of the year, very exciting.

[Kessel Run]

Anyone want to guess on the speed limit?

Won't be 100km/h. The rest of Gushue is what, 80? 90?

[rthomasd]

The TGH pace of construction now resembles a 'real' project. If they'd done this amount of work last year, the road would be open now .

The concrete divider has been extended to the Topsail Rd overpass. Lights are mostly installed now.

At the Blackmarsh roundabout they've done the rough roadbed for the Blackmarsh Rd through-lane with some fine gravel ready to spread at the east-end. Today they are working on the Empire Ave lane.
All along the route they are doing landscaping.

The City says the Blackmarsh Rd re-route work will start next Monday and continue till end-November. The project map says a developer ( Danny ? ) is paying for the Blackmarsh Rd east-side connection. Interesting ...

[613_YYT]

I really don't understand why this highway is being completed and people are excited by it. The province is almost bankrupt but will spend $10's of millions plus ongoing maintenance to provide (perceived) reduction in traffic for people living in far out suburbs.

This plan will just create more sprawl and increase traffic over the next few years. We are already seeing plans for the standard subdivisions and industrial parks on Kenmount Hill and Kilbride/Goulds. Once these are built the roads will be a capacity and there will talk about how to build the next roads to fix the traffic. This is what happened after the Outer Ring Road was built to solve congestion of Columbus Drive and Prince Philip Drive which were built to solve congestion of Elizabeth Ave and Empire Ave.

Not only is the province barely able to afford to build this and maintain and all other roads they already have but the City will also be stuck with providing new areas with services that are already spread thin. Relying on expansion and developer fees is want put the City in it's current budget situation. I won't even get into the deceased quality of life, increased health costs and environmental impact that come with sprawl.

I'll be willing to wager a beer that in 5 years after this road opens that we will be hearing the same complaints that we hear about the Outer Ring Road now.

[rthomasd]

I don't believe we're near to being bankrupt.With a much-needed tweek to the Equalization formula we could be getting billions ( instead of PQ ). How can anyone argue that a budget-surplus'd PQ is more deserving of equalization that NL.

The TGH will benefit anyone in the West end who want to get to Kelsey or areas beyond without having to travel through residential streets.

[Marty_Mcfly]

I mean....what exactly do you propose as a solution to solve the awful traffic congestion on Kenmount Road, Topsail Road, and Columbus Drive?

[goodgrowth]

Originally Posted by 613_YYT

I really don't understand why this highway is being completed and people are excited by it. The province is almost bankrupt but will spend $10's of millions plus ongoing maintenance to provide (perceived) reduction in traffic for people living in far out suburbs.

This plan will just create more sprawl and increase traffic over the next few years. We are already seeing plans for the standard subdivisions and industrial parks on Kenmount Hill and Kilbride/Goulds. Once these are built the roads will be a capacity and there will talk about how to build the next roads to fix the traffic. This is what happened after the Outer Ring Road was built to solve congestion of Columbus Drive and Prince Philip Drive which were built to solve congestion of Elizabeth Ave and Empire Ave.

Not only is the province barely able to afford to build this and maintain and all other roads they already have but the City will also be stuck with providing new areas with services that are already spread thin. Relying on expansion and developer fees is want put the City in it's current budget situation. I won't even get into the deceased quality of life, increased health costs and environmental impact that come with sprawl.

I'll be willing to wager a beer that in 5 years after this road opens that we will be hearing the same complaints that we hear about the Outer Ring Road now.

How do you think traffic would be without TGH and the Outer Ring Road? If anything they both are coming online years after they were needed. I can't imagine the traffic if ORR didn't exist. I'd argue it could be six lanes wide at this point.

Roads themselves don't create traffic....increasing population and peoples preference for suburban life in single detached homes and using vehicles drive that. You can't force that preference. Also traffic in St. John's isn't that bad in the grand scheme of things.

As with regards to the province/city not being able to afford TGH. I'd argue the increased migration of Newfoundlanders into the St. John's area is making things more cost efficient overall...not less. ORR and TGH costs millions of dollars but are going to be used by 10's of thousands of cars everyday. Some places have a ferry for what... 100 people?

TGH as it is right now might not be big deal but when it is finally completed it be absolutely necessary for Mt. Pearl/Southlands/Galway.

Also don't get me wrong I am all for more efficient planning and public transportation. I think Metrobus could be a lot better (ie more hubs, weatherproof shelters).