Highways in Canada

[Djeffery]

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

New projects that haven't been confirmed for funding, which make them interesting:

- Westchester Bourne and Dorchester Road interchange replacements on the 401 outside of London;

I don't get over one exit east very often, but I think they have already started work on the Westchester overpass, Or at least started the footings for the new bridge which is going to be built on the west side of the old one.

[Corndogger]

Drone footage of construction on the last leg of 201 in Calgary. This is the bypass (not really!) freeway the province is building. There's no sound!

https://westringroad.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BIrds-Eye-View-Jul-2020.mp4

[JHikka]

Drove the 11 near Orillia a few days ago and nearly died when I read on a sign:

North Bay 200km
Thunder Bay 1250km
Rainy River 1700km

[Dengler Avenue]

Indeed.
West of Arnprior, you won't ever see a sign that says, "Winnipeg (MB) 2210".

[Djeffery]

And people from Texas like to brag that you can drive for a day non-stop and still be in Texas lol

[DavefromSt.Vital]

I've always been puzzled why there is a sign in the EB Collector Lanes of the 401 at the Humber River noting that Algonquin Park is 250 km away via the 400.

Are there that many confused campers from points west?

[Proof Sheet]

Originally Posted by DavefromSt.Vital

I've always been puzzled why there is a sign in the EB Collector Lanes of the 401 at the Humber River noting that Algonquin Park is 250 km away via the 400.

Are there that many confused campers from points west?

I've seen that before especially when stuck in traffic on the 401 and then seeing that the tranquility of Algonquin is 250 km seems surreal.

I remember being in Austria on an autobahn and seeing a sign for the distance to Istanbul which seemed a world away.

[Djeffery]

Originally Posted by DavefromSt.Vital

I've always been puzzled why there is a sign in the EB Collector Lanes of the 401 at the Humber River noting that Algonquin Park is 250 km away via the 400.

Are there that many confused campers from points west?

There's also this on on 409EB at Martin Grove.

https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.6985744,-...FpvyuTr6r3NHGYmXRVzkw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

[Dengler Avenue]

Originally Posted by DavefromSt.Vital

I've always been puzzled why there is a sign in the EB Collector Lanes of the 401 at the Humber River noting that Algonquin Park is 250 km away via the 400.

Are there that many confused campers from points west?

Originally Posted by Djeffery

There's also this on on 409EB at Martin Grove.

https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.6985744,-...FpvyuTr6r3NHGYmXRVzkw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

That makes sense then. The distance from 409 to 400 is only 4 km.

[DavefromSt.Vital]

So MTO believes that there is a high volume of traffic from Pearson Airport to Algonquin Park?

[Andy6]

Originally Posted by DavefromSt.Vital

So MTO believes that there is a high volume of traffic from Pearson Airport to Algonquin Park?

It's a pretty famous park so there could well be a lot of people who fly in to Toronto with Algonquin as their destination. Much as we're all convinced that foreigners flock to Canada to see Toronto's condominium towers, the vast majority are simply hoping to see a moose.

[theman23]

Originally Posted by Andy6

It's a pretty famous park so there could well be a lot of people who fly in to Toronto with Algonquin as their destination. Much as we're all convinced that foreigners flock to Canada to see Toronto's condominium towers, the vast majority are simply hoping to see a moose.

Lol right. Algonquin is a pretty mediocre park for an international visitor. Maybe a few visitors get confused thinking they can see the Rockies from Opeongo lake, but by and large it’s for locals only.

[TownGuy]

Originally Posted by theman23

Lol right. Algonquin is a pretty mediocre park for an international visitor. Maybe a few visitors get confused thinking they can see the Rockies from Opeongo lake, but by and large it’s for locals only.

Depends what they want. You aren't going to find better canoeing anywhere, which is arguably its major draw.

[Andy6]

Originally Posted by theman23

Lol right. Algonquin is a pretty mediocre park for an international visitor. Maybe a few visitors get confused thinking they can see the Rockies from Opeongo lake, but by and large it’s for locals only.

Historically it was a very famous park. The sign locations might well date from the 1950s or 60s.

[swimmer_spe]

Originally Posted by Andy6

Historically it was a very famous park. The sign locations might well date from the 1950s or 60s.

The sign isn't.

[JHikka]

In my experience people really underestimate the number of international travelers that come to Canada for National/Provincial parks.

[Acajack]

Algonquin is the closest large, true wilderness park to Canada's biggest international air travel hub.

As others have said, lots of people come to Canada for the wilderness aspect.

Also, road signage is first and foremost informative but it can also be promotional.

I agree that this sign placement is likely the result of a decision made decades ago, but it still reminds people who see it that, hey, maybe there's something to this Algonquin Park place.

[jamincan]

Originally Posted by TownGuy

Depends what they want. You aren't going to find better canoeing anywhere, which is arguably its major draw.

The lakes are generally too big and the portages too long to be the best canoeing destination. Quetico Park/Boundary Waters near Atikokan in NW Ontario is far and away the best flat water canoeing area I've been to.

[swimmer_spe]

Originally Posted by jamincan

The lakes are generally too big and the portages too long to be the best canoeing destination. Quetico Park/Boundary Waters near Atikokan in NW Ontario is far and away the best flat water canoeing area I've been to.

And all of that is 🞵🞵🞵🞵 to other places too. The reality is, Algonquin is a big draw, not because it is an untouched gem, but because of it's proximity to the largest urban centre in Canada.

[sonysnob]

Video of Highway 2 and 201 along the eastern edge of Calgary:

• Video Link