Highways in Canada

[swimmer_spe]

... Still never understood why it switched traffic so that you drove on the wrong side of the road.

[Innsertnamehere]

MTO looked at an Ottawa Bypass a couple of years ago but decided against it as there is ultimately very little inter regional traffic going through the city. Most cars on the 417 and 416 are ending their trips in Ottawa, and there is no rational reason to need to bypass between the 416 and 417 as if you needed to do a trip like that you probably would have just taken the 401 instead.

The good news is that the Greenbelt will always exist, so they can always construct one later if they ever decide they need it.

the 417 is getting widened through central Ottawa now anyway so no that should hold traffic over for a little longer.

what do you mean when you said this? I can't seem to understand it. A-85 is up to full freeways standards for its entire length.

Quebec did 'cheap' out by just expanding the highway to 4-5 lanes through some of the towns instead of having 2 separated highways; but for the most part, it was a good sweet ride through. The old Irving Truckstop right at the Quebec border's days will be numbered; it isn't too far off the highway, but it's not obvious how to get to it if you didn't know it was there.

[Taeolas]

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

MTO looked at an Ottawa Bypass a couple of years ago but decided against it as there is ultimately very little inter regional traffic going through the city. Most cars on the 417 and 416 are ending their trips in Ottawa, and there is no rational reason to need to bypass between the 416 and 417 as if you needed to do a trip like that you probably would have just taken the 401 instead.

The good news is that the Greenbelt will always exist, so they can always construct one later if they ever decide they need it.

the 417 is getting widened through central Ottawa now anyway so no that should hold traffic over for a little longer.

Thanks for the info on the Ottawa bypass. As long as they have the space for it, then they should be future proof. I know for us, we were coming from the East and going to West Ottawa, and we got snarlled up in traffic all the way.

what do you mean when you said this? I can't seem to understand it. A-85 is up to full freeways standards for its entire length.

It was partly in jest. But mainly I mean that instead of having 2 separate roadways with a median in place, they have a single roadway with a concrete barrier in between. This is only going through a couple of the towns basically.

[eemy]

Originally Posted by Taeolas

It was partly in jest. But mainly I mean that instead of having 2 separate roadways with a median in place, they have a single roadway with a concrete barrier in between. This is only going through a couple of the towns basically.

A lot of Ontario highways are like that now. For example, when I drive from Kitchener to Orillia, almost the entire route no longer has a median.

[swimmer_spe]

Originally Posted by jeremy_haak

A lot of Ontario highways are like that now. For example, when I drive from Kitchener to Orillia, almost the entire route no longer has a median.

Yes, but that is 6 lanes, not 4.

[Innsertnamehere]

NB-1 through St. John is like that as well, for a New Brunswick example. Pretty standard, they do it where they run out of space for a traditional median, like in urban locations, or highways that they later widen, eliminating the centre median. The 400, 401, and highway 11 are like that because they were initially constructed with less lanes and then widened later. Well, Highway 11 is like that to enforce the RIRO setup, it was initially widened to a traditional 4 lane arterial road without medians at all.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by swimmer_spe

... Still never understood why it switched traffic so that you drove on the wrong side of the road.

You talking about the autoroute going west coming out of central Montreal?

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

MTO looked at an Ottawa Bypass a couple of years ago but decided against it as there is ultimately very little inter regional traffic going through the city. Most cars on the 417 and 416 are ending their trips in Ottawa, and there is no rational reason to need to bypass between the 416 and 417 as if you needed to do a trip like that you probably would have just taken the 401 instead.

The good news is that the Greenbelt will always exist, so they can always construct one later if they ever decide they need it.

the 417 is getting widened through central Ottawa now anyway so no that should hold traffic over for a little longer.

what do you mean when you said this? I can't seem to understand it. A-85 is up to full freeways standards for its entire length.

Yeah. The southern bypass of Ottawa is called Hunt Club Road. It's four lanes with stop lights along its entire length.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Taeolas

Thanks for the info on the Ottawa bypass. As long as they have the space for it, then they should be future proof. I know for us, we were coming from the East and going to West Ottawa, and we got snarlled up in traffic all the way.



It was partly in jest. But mainly I mean that instead of having 2 separate roadways with a median in place, they have a single roadway with a concrete barrier in between. This is only going through a couple of the towns basically.

I kind of like the design of A-85 through the towns there. It makes them seem bigger than they actually are. Also a nice change of pace - at least visually - from traditional Quebec autoroute design outside the main metros.

[swimmer_spe]

Originally Posted by Acajack

You talking about the autoroute going west coming out of central Montreal?

Yes, autoroute 20...

[sonysnob]

A-85 is also very much a mountain highway, so I'm not sure its too surprising that sections of it weren't constructed with a wide grassed median. I quite like A-85. That section heading northbound where the highway descends down to the lake is spectacular.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by sonysnob

A-85 is also very much a mountain highway, so I'm not sure its too surprising that sections of it weren't constructed with a wide grassed median. I quite like A-85. That section heading northbound where the highway descends down to the lake is spectacular.

The A85 is quite visually appealing, as is the continuation on NB2 down to Woodstock, mostly because you are driving through the Appalachians. NB2 from Woodstock to Salisbury (near Moncton) however is deadly boring. The mountains are gone, and the province made the decision to build the highway through the forest in such a manner that it makes it appear that nobody lives in NB at all. The ROW is completely forested. Even though you pass within a few km of Fredericton, you wouldn't know the city is there.

[Taeolas]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

The A85 is quite visually appealing, as is the continuation on NB2 down to Woodstock, mostly because you are driving through the Appalachians. NB2 from Woodstock to Salisbury (near Moncton) however is deadly boring. The mountains are gone, and the province made the decision to build the highway through the forest in such a manner that it makes it appear that nobody lives in NB at all. The ROW is completely forested. Even though you pass within a few km of Fredericton, you wouldn't know the city is there.

I agree, though I'd push the Scenic side down to Nackawic at least; there's some fantastic river views from the highway as you go, especially going southbound.

Freddy on to Moncton, other than crossing the Saint John and Jemseg, are boring as hell.

Freddy at least is growing out towards the new highway, so it shouldn't be 'isolated' for much longer. (Hanwell has already engulfed the interchange, and the Regent street growth is inching towards the highway).

The highway's routing from Oromocto to Moncton is still very confusing, and a very unfortunate decision. If they'd pushed it a bit further south, it could have hit Sussex, and at least passed closer to more villages and towns. (Granted they would have needed another bridge but at least it would service more areas)

[GreaterMontréal]

Experts recommend the extension of A-13 to A-50. to solve the eternal problem of congestion on the North Shore.

[Loco101]

Does the MTQ have plans to build a bridge between Hudson and Oka? Connect A-640 with A-30 and there would be a Northern bypass around the Island of Montreal.

And A-640 should be connected to A-30 between Charlemagne and Varennes and then there would be a complete freeway ring road around the Island of Montreal. Would it not make sense to have traffic just driving through Montreal go around it instead and reduce gridlock, especially on A-40?

[FrAnKs]

I am very sorry guys, but I could't resist to share this :

See full screen + HD.

• Video Link

[manny_santos]

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

MTO looked at an Ottawa Bypass a couple of years ago but decided against it as there is ultimately very little inter regional traffic going through the city. Most cars on the 417 and 416 are ending their trips in Ottawa, and there is no rational reason to need to bypass between the 416 and 417 as if you needed to do a trip like that you probably would have just taken the 401 instead.

The good news is that the Greenbelt will always exist, so they can always construct one later if they ever decide they need it.

the 417 is getting widened through central Ottawa now anyway so no that should hold traffic over for a little longer.

A southerly east-west controlled access highway, at the very least, would improve access to the airport.

However I think improved access from Hwy 417 to Quebec should be the higher priority. I've heard long distance truck traffic on the surface streets connecting Nicholas Street to A-5 is pretty bad.

I also think the NCC made a mistake not extending the parkway to the Queensway. That could have taken pressure off the Queensway.

[Horus]

Originally Posted by GreaterMontréal

Experts recommend the extension of A-13 to A-50. to solve the eternal problem of congestion on the North Shore.

Yes! This!

Also, it wouldn't hurt to twin the A-50 between Mirabel and Lachute. That section is too busy for a Super-2 configuration.

[MolsonExport]

Originally Posted by FrAnKs

I am very sorry guys, but I could't resist to share this :

See full screen + HD.

• Video Link

Cool. I drove this road a few times when I visited Melbourne in 2013. Great city.

[MolsonExport]

Very nice aerial shots of the famous turcot yards spaghetti junction, nephersir7.

I used to drive this daily, for many years.