Highways in Canada

[Innsertnamehere]

the 404 has never been planned to go past Sutton, with a 4 lane 48 / 12 combo to disperse the traffic. A ton of traffic turns onto old 48 north of Beaverton (a highway that never should have been downloaded IMO), after which the 4 laning isn't really needed. It especially isn't needed north of 169.

The real "fix" for the 400 IMO is widening the 400 to 3+HOV through the central portion, 4+HOV south of King Road, building the Bradford Bypass, and widening through Barrie to 4+HOV. Maybe extend the 6 lane portion of the 404 to the Bradford Bypass.

[middeljohn]

Man, forgot how much I hate the 401 through the GTA. At least there's no speed cameras.

[thegx]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BxRX679IMAEhcTe.jpg

The final link in Edmonton's ring road coming along nicely.

[ssiguy]

Are they ever going to bring HWY#2 up to freeway standards?

[craner]

Originally Posted by ssiguy

Are they ever going to bring HWY#2 up to freeway standards?

If you mean within the city of Edmonton I doubt it. I think once the ring road is complete the thought is a freeway through the city is not required.
Maybe they will bring it up to freeway standards as far north as Whitemud but I don't know. I believe making Yellowhead free flow is a higher priority for the city.

[middeljohn]

Originally Posted by craner

If you mean within the city of Edmonton I doubt it. I think once the ring road is complete the thought is a freeway through the city is not required.
Maybe they will bring it up to freeway standards as far north as Whitemud but I don't know. I believe making Yellowhead free flow is a higher priority for the city.

Kind of bothersome that there isn't a north-south freeway in the city, but at the same time I have a tough time thinking of a single road in Edmonton that could somewhat easily be converted to a freeway through the entire length of the city. Only one that could sort of be done is 97 St, however only the portion north of downtown. As it is currently is really not that slow. Having just spent the last few days in Toronto I got a good reminder of what bad traffic actually is like.

[haljackey]

Canada's largest interchange is about to get a little larger.

2 new connecting ramps going in at the 401-403-410 interchange in Mississauga.
-EB 401 to SB 403
-NB 410 to WB 401

http://news.ontario.ca/mto/en/2014/09/improvements-begin-on-highway-410.html

[Spocket]

^Actually, I've always wondered why that interchange wasn't built with those ramps in the first place. Was the traffic count estimated to be too low at the time or something ?

[middeljohn]

About time, no idea why they didn't build it in the first place.

[BradFromTO]

Originally Posted by middeljohn

Man, forgot how much I hate the 401 through the GTA. At least there's no speed cameras.

The section between the 427 and dixon/martin grove is hell on earth. Doesn't matter what time of day it is, there is a very good chance you will be in start and stop traffic

[middeljohn]

Originally Posted by BradFromTO

The section between the 427 and dixon/martin grove is hell on earth. Doesn't matter what time of day it is, there is a very good chance you will be in start and stop traffic

Toronto's the only city I've been to that you need to plan for a traffic jam at 1pm. Worst part imo is where the DVP/404 crosses the 401. It's taken me half an hour or more to get across sometimes, a stretch of maybe 500 meters. 10 lanes from the 404 converge into 4 lanes, and then back to 6 on the otherside of the 401.

A few years ago when they completed the QEW widening it was pretty smooth flowing, but now it's back to old habits, although only during peak times.

[BradFromTO]

Originally Posted by middeljohn

Toronto's the only city I've been to that you need to plan for a traffic jam at 1pm. Worst part imo is where the DVP/404 crosses the 401. It's taken me half an hour or more to get across sometimes, a stretch of maybe 500 meters.

A few years ago when they completed the QEW widening it was pretty smooth flowing, but now it's back to old habits, although only during peak times.

Yeah, the good thing about the QEW and even the Gardiner going through downtown, is that it is generally predictable and you can plan around traffic fairly effectively. The 401 on the other hand...

[sonysnob]

Originally Posted by middeljohn

Toronto's the only city I've been to that you need to plan for a traffic jam at 1pm. Worst part imo is where the DVP/404 crosses the 401. It's taken me half an hour or more to get across sometimes, a stretch of maybe 500 meters. 10 lanes from the 404 converge into 4 lanes, and then back to 6 on the otherside of the 401.

A few years ago when they completed the QEW widening it was pretty smooth flowing, but now it's back to old habits, although only during peak times.

Whenever I drive towards Downtown on the DVP, I always come in from the 401. From the westbound 401, particularly from the collector lanes, by-passes most of the congestion that is experienced on the southbound 404. Ideally, they need to get rid of the southbound to eastbound loop ramp from the 404 to the 401, and replace it with something with a higher capacity, but I don't see an easy solution there.

[sonysnob]

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

the 404 has never been planned to go past Sutton, with a 4 lane 48 / 12 combo to disperse the traffic. A ton of traffic turns onto old 48 north of Beaverton (a highway that never should have been downloaded IMO), after which the 4 laning isn't really needed. It especially isn't needed north of 169.

The real "fix" for the 400 IMO is widening the 400 to 3+HOV through the central portion, 4+HOV south of King Road, building the Bradford Bypass, and widening through Barrie to 4+HOV. Maybe extend the 6 lane portion of the 404 to the Bradford Bypass.

I don't think either the eastern leg of 48 or Hwy 169 should have been downloaded. 169 in particular, while it isn't super busy, is certainly strategic. Enough so, that the province should be regulating roadside development.

[Horus]

Originally Posted by BradFromTO

The section between the 427 and dixon/martin grove is hell on earth. Doesn't matter what time of day it is, there is a very good chance you will be in start and stop traffic

Used to be, you could bypass that mess (eastbound at least) by taking the 427 north to 409 and rejoining the 401 at Islington. That would also get you past the worst of the rush hour traffic on the 401 passing by Pearson as well. I'm not sure if that is still an effective option.

[eternallyme]

Originally Posted by Horus

Used to be, you could bypass that mess (eastbound at least) by taking the 427 north to 409 and rejoining the 401 at Islington. That would also get you past the worst of the rush hour traffic on the 401 passing by Pearson as well. I'm not sure if that is still an effective option.

The section of the 401 in that area narrows to 8-10 lanes from 14-18 lanes, and there is no room to expand unless either major expropriation takes place, or the express lanes are stacked above the existing highway (both very expensive propositions).

[MolsonExport]

Originally Posted by haljackey

Canada's largest interchange is about to get a little larger.

2 new connecting ramps going in at the 401-403-410 interchange in Mississauga.
-EB 401 to SB 403
-NB 410 to WB 401

http://news.ontario.ca/mto/en/2014/09/improvements-begin-on-highway-410.html

The Hershey Highway! Where you drive and shart your pants simultaneously.

re: Hershey sportzone in lower part of map.

[CanadianCentaur]

Originally Posted by craner

If you mean within the city of Edmonton I doubt it. I think once the ring road is complete the thought is a freeway through the city is not required.
Maybe they will bring it up to freeway standards as far north as Whitemud but I don't know. I believe making Yellowhead free flow is a higher priority for the city.

I think there are probably plans to eventually build an interchange at 34 Avenue (between Whitemud and 23rd Ave), but you're right that it's not a priority compared to the Yellowhead.

[ssiguy]

You think that's bad, try Vancouver.

The Massey Tunnel northbound in rush hour has 5 lanes merging into just 1!

Also, when I was referring to HWY#2 in Alberta, I didn't mean Edmonton but the entire stretch from Airdrie to Leduc. It still has some level crossings doesn't it? I know most maps don't show it as a complete freeway but rather mostly freeway and the other sections shown as just a 4 lane road.

Is that the case still or have they brought the entire road up to freeway standards?

[libtard]

Originally Posted by haljackey

Canada's largest interchange is about to get a little larger.

2 new connecting ramps going in at the 401-403-410 interchange in Mississauga.
-EB 401 to SB 403
-NB 410 to WB 401

http://news.ontario.ca/mto/en/2014/09/improvements-begin-on-highway-410.html

Nice interchange. Shame they're going to ruin it with a loop. It should be all flyovers