Highways in Canada

[MolsonExport]

Originally Posted by sonysnob

There are a number of reasons why we don't built Texas-esque style interchanges in Canada.

As others have mentioned, the largest reason is probably winter maintenance. Structures require a lot more preventive maintenance in northern climates than they do southern. Not only does this maintenance carry significant monetary costs, but it also has significant traffic impacts. Look at the delays that have been caused just from the single lane closure of the ramp from the eastbound 401 to the northbound 427.

For Houston in particular, Houston is quite flat, so it is impractical to bring large quantities of earth in for fill, as there is simply not a lot of land that they can borrow from. Trucking earth is an expensive proposition. You can see this in Ontario as well, the grade separations along the 417 between Ottawa and Cassleman tend to be elongated in order to minimize the amount of fill that was brought in for the bridge approaches.

https://www.google.ca/maps/@45.349373,-7...3m4!1e1!3m2!1sW8v81HYu8mTr88jxMMsg3w!2e0

The final reason is drivability. In places where the ground doesn't freeze you can build sharper curves with greater super-elevation than you can anywhere in Canada. In Texas, for example, curves can be super-elevated upwards of 8%, where as here we generally limit ourselves to using less than 6. Furthermore there is also the reality, that bridge decks will freeze before other sections of road, which is further incentive not to build long bridges with sharp curves.

One thing that should be noted, is that despite their massive appearance, interchanges in Texas often have a much smaller footprint than their Canadian counterparts:

High 5 interchange in Dallas:


400 and 407, same scale:

Wholly Wasteage, Batman! The second shot (Canadian) reveals a landscape of which more than 75% is given to cars (between parking, highway and useless land in highway margins). Asphalt planet indeed!

[GreaterMontréal]

with the exception of behemoth messes like the Turcot Interchange in Montreal.

it will look much better in 2020.

• Video Link


http://www.turcot.gouv.qc.ca/nouvellesmu...ia/pages/photos-situationsprojetees.aspx
http://www.turcot.gouv.qc.ca/nouvellesmultimedia/galeriemultimedia/pages/capsulesvideo.aspx

[Innsertnamehere]

Found this great render of the Nipigon River bridge currently under construction. This will be the first Cable stay bridge in Ontario.

[ScreamingViking]

Looks great. So much nicer than the usual bridges we tend to build these days.

[ssiguy]

Where is that, near North Bay?

[Dwils01]

1 hour east of Thunder Bay where highways 11 and 17 meet.

[isaidso]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

Wholly Wasteage, Batman! The second shot (Canadian) reveals a landscape of which more than 75% is given to cars (between parking, highway and useless land in highway margins). Asphalt planet indeed!

Rather than wastage, I see the 2nd shot as a rare occasion where Toronto had the foresight to leave space for expansion down the road. The last thing you want to do is build up right up to the highway. They wanted to widen the 401 back in the 90s but couldn't because they ran out of space.

At least here they have the option to add lots of new lanes is we one day need them. If we never do, little harm done.

[Innsertnamehere]

the 407 is designed to be built out to 12 lanes, and many sections of it already are at that point.

[Techman224]

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

the 407 is designed to be built out to 12 lanes, and many sections of it already are at that point.

Isn't there something in the contract with 407 ETR that states the concession must expand the road if traffic gets too busy?

[Innsertnamehere]

up until the 12 lane point I believe.

[middeljohn]

Although it's a larger footprint, one advantage I see is that the turn isn't as sharp, making it safer to operate at high speeds. Further, if a truck or something topples over, it has less of a likelihood of falling onto lanes below and rather into a ditch.

Edit: I have to add. A few weeks ago I merged from the 407 to the 400 and I was quite taken away by the impressiveness of a true 4-stack. The GTA has a lot of 3-stacks and quite a few almost-4-stacks, but driving at the bottom of a true 4-stack was very impressive.

[swimmer_spe]

Originally Posted by ssiguy

Where is that, near North Bay?

Ya... only about 100km ish.

The other Bay

[FrAnKs]

Sorry guys, I know it isn't Canada, but this video is EPIC

Make sure to Watch full screen with HD mode for better results

• Video Link

California

[niwell]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

Wholly Wasteage, Batman! The second shot (Canadian) reveals a landscape of which more than 75% is given to cars (between parking, highway and useless land in highway margins). Asphalt planet indeed!

Except when you consider the Canadian one is on the fringe of the city where this land has been dedicated to highways since 1978 (parkway belt west plan: http://www.mah.gov.on.ca/Page5667.aspx). The city grew around what was designated to be future highway. Not saying it's great, but we didn't rip out anything for it. The Texas example is well within the urban area.

[davidivivid]

Right next to the bridges, meeting of the A-73, A-540 and Laurier boulevard.



http://www.lapresse.ca/le-soleil/vivre-i...ets-a-la-une-soleil_1667938_section_POS5

[sonysnob]

Originally Posted by FrAnKs

Sorry guys, I know it isn't Canada, but this video is EPIC

Make sure to Watch full screen with HD mode for better results

• Video Link

California

Yeah, not Canada, but California is awesome. It's probably the one place in the US that I would have absolutely no problem living in.

[FrAnKs]

Originally Posted by sonysnob

Yeah, not Canada, but California is awesome. It's probably the one place in the US that I would have absolutely no problem living in.

Same here !

It's hand downs my favourite US state.

California has everything I like (Except the possibility of heavy earthquakes.... )

Otherwise, even though, L.A. and S.F. are both awesome, I would be better living in smaller cities such as Sacramento or San-Diego.

[GlassCity]

Originally Posted by FrAnKs

Same here !

It's hand downs my favourite US state.

California has everything I like (Except the possibility of heavy earthquakes.... )

Otherwise, even though, L.A. and S.F. are both awesome, I would be better living in smaller cities such as Sacramento or San-Diego.

I've been to all of those except San Diego, and San Francisco is not just my favourite city in California, but in all of the US that I've been to. Just spectacular.

[FrAnKs]

Originally Posted by GlassCity

I've been to all of those except San Diego, and San Francisco is not just my favourite city in California, but in all of the US that I've been to. Just spectacular.

Indeed, it's Worth visiting. Unfortunately, the city is RIGHT on san andreas fault.

Otherwise, I feel I would fall in love with Boston, another city I've never been to.

Meanwhile I've been 3 times in NYC. Impressive, hence... dirty and stressful.

[isaidso]

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

the 407 is designed to be built out to 12 lanes, and many sections of it already are at that point.

Considering 18 lanes proved to be too little for the 401, do you think 12 is enough for the 407? I'd much rather they left space for something double that width. If they don't need it, no loss. If they do but didn't leave enough space, they're screwed.

Seems to me that they haven't learned from past mistakes. History repeats.