Highways in Canada

[sonysnob]

I have completed an update to the 407 East Extension Construction Page. These photos were taken earlier in November. Construction i still ongoing, so things may have changed somewhat since these photos were taken:


Easterly view from Brock Road


The Sideline 14 overpass


Westerly view from Salem Road


Three level Highway 407/412 interchange


The Anderson Road overpass situated behind a big brother gantry


Un-completed Simcoe Street overpass


Crossing of the east branch of Oshawa Creek near the eastern terminus of the Phase 1 extension.

All of the photos are available here:
http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_407-409_images/407E/Hwy407_ConstructionImages.htm#Nov15

[MolsonExport]

cool shots.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by sonysnob

^ Following the September 11 attacks in the USA, there was an increase to the amount of border security for vehicles including trucks to get to the USA. This resulted in queuing approaching the border at several crossings including at the pictured 402 Blue Water Bridge crossing.

To combat truck queuing, truck queuing lanes were constructed along the 402. These are what the middle two lanes of the highway are. These were constructed to separate queued trucks from normal highway operations so they didn't impede people using the highway locally in Sarnia. The left-most lane is carries autos to the USA. While, the three lanes to the left are exclusively bound for the USA, the local lane to the right serves all of the local interchanges in Sarnia. This sign serves as an assurance to westbound motorists who may be using the local lanes that this lane does indeed also head to the USA as well beyond the final westbound exit.

OK, thanks. I am not sure I see the point entirely though. I mean, if all of the U.S. only lanes are clogged up, the right hand lane may get clogged up with U.S.-bound traffic too, won't it? Since it also goes to the U.S. eventually even if it goes to local Sarnia exits too.

[sonysnob]

^ Potentially.

Though truck queuing is fortunately not a regular occurrence anymore, so it's probably realistic to be able to keep the lanes clear through highway enforcement activities undertaken by local law enforcement during peak periods.

[Dwils01]

Got word today of a public consultation for Highway 17 in Echo Bay. The three at grade intersections will be turned into three grade separated interchanges.
Echo Bay is roughly 20km southeast of Sault Ste. Marie.

[sonysnob]

That's great news. Is there a website or anything for the project?

[manny_santos]

Originally Posted by Dwils01

Got word today of a public consultation for Highway 17 in Echo Bay. The three at grade intersections will be turned into three grade separated interchanges.
Echo Bay is roughly 20km southeast of Sault Ste. Marie.

Slowly but surely upgrading the Trans-Canada Highway to a full freeway in NE Ontario.

[Innsertnamehere]

Maybe the 407 and 412 will open by end of year.. They seem to be flying through it now. Sonysnob, how are you feeling about it given you have been by it more recently than I have? Think it will open by the end of the year or is it still looking more like 2016?

as for Highway 17, the planning is likely just early EA processes, which MTO does all the time without really planning to build anything. They go through the processes to ensure that the required land can be protected from development for when they do actually build it. MTO has been planning to upgrade 17/11 through North Bay since the 1970's to ensure they have the land protected for it, but haven't even gotten close to considering actually constructing it.

[sonysnob]

^ I live out that way, so I check the construction out every few weeks or so. I honestly don't know if they can open the highway before the snow flies this year. I suspect not, but the way they are still working it seems like they are certainly trying. I tend to visit the site on Sunday's and every Sunday that I visit, there is always still a flurry of activity at the site. Highway construction on a Sunday is otherwise pretty rare in Ontario.

There are a few things that definitely won't be finished though. On the 407, neither the Highway 12, Thickson or Simcoe Street overpasses are complete. Highway 12 is close to being completed, and could probably be waterproofed and paved by the time the snow flies, but Thickson in particular is no where near close to being opened -- they haven't even poured the northbound bridge deck. The overpasses at Kinsale, Coronation and Cochrane (not sure about Westney) also aren't finished, but the highway could probably be opened underneath of them, and they could be finished later next year. Work at the Thorton, Winchester and Harmony underpasses is also not completed, though might be able to be completed within the month.

On the 412, neither the Taunton or Highway 2 overpasses have been completed. In fact at Taunton, some of the freeway mainline hasn't even gotten its first course of asphalt yet, and the ramps aren't fully graded on the south side. It might be possible to open the highway underneath the overpass, and defer opening the interchange until next year, but I don't know if that's realistic. I have a bunch of 412 photos that I have taken over the past few months to upload as well, but I just haven't yet found the time to write a page for them.

I could see most of the work being completed at the 412/401 interchange in Whitby within a month, but the Lake Ridge Road interchange definitely won't be done. Construction on the ramp from the eastbound 401 to Lake Ridge hasn't even started yet.

By the looks of things, some advanced work has now started on Phase 2 of the project, but nothing really of note at this early time.

[DrNest]

I drove by the 407 between Thickson and Simcoe a week ago. It doesn't look like they will be finished in time to open to the public by the end of the year. Obviously I could be wrong but to my, admittedly untrained, eye there looked to be too much still to do.

[toaster]

Originally Posted by manny_santos

Slowly but surely upgrading the Trans-Canada Highway to a full freeway in NE Ontario.

Municipalities in the North East are advocating for Highway 11 to be 4-laned from North Bay to Cochrane, not 17..

[Innsertnamehere]

I think everyone generally agrees 17 would make more sense, as you would have to do it to Sault Ste Marie anyway.


Besides, it shouldn't be twinned the entire way anyway. 11 doesn't need any more twinning than it currently has quite frankly. Ottawa to Sault Ste Marie, a couple of town bypasses, a bit around Thunder Bay, and from Manitoba to Kenora is "all" that should be done.

[1overcosc]

The first opportunity I would have to use the 412/407E would be on February 21st, when I'm driving from Pearson Airport to Kingston.

Are chances good the 412 and the 407 at least to the 412 interchange could be open by then?

[jmt18325]

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

I think everyone generally agrees 17 would make more sense, as you would have to do it to Sault Ste Marie anyway.

I don't think doing either in entirely is really warranted. More passing lanes on both highways, some straightening on 17...some fences on 17 in some areas that scare the hell out of you.

I think that strategic 4 laning is a better answer. Finishing the stretch through part of the Ottawa Valley and the area around Thunder Bay should be priorities. It should also be done from North Bay to both Saulte Ste Marie and Tamiskuming Shores. Manitoba should finish its section in the Canadian Shield, and Ontario should continue that to Kenora and for the short (less than 1km) concurrent stretch on the East side of Kenora.

[sonysnob]

I think that the next priority in northern Ontario will probably be Highway 17 east and west of Sudbury. It's the busiest road, and particularly to the east, the road doesn't have great geometry.

I watch the consultant assignments for the MTO pretty regularly, and there have been a number or property appraisal assignments along the future alignment of Hwy 11/17 through North Bay. I don't know what that means for construction timelines, but it may be (or unfortunately, may not be) indicative of trying to move forward to by-pass the southern part of the North Bay by-pass.

[eternallyme]

Originally Posted by Acajack

OK, thanks. I am not sure I see the point entirely though. I mean, if all of the U.S. only lanes are clogged up, the right hand lane may get clogged up with U.S.-bound traffic too, won't it? Since it also goes to the U.S. eventually even if it goes to local Sarnia exits too.

I have never found the Sarnia-Port Huron crossing congested though, based on the several times I have taken it (admittedly never during long weekends like this coming one). Compared to the Windsor crossings, it is a relative breeze.

Regarding the 11/17 debate, 11 between North Bay and Matheson can be quite busy as well - much busier than Highway 17 in the uppermost Ottawa Valley and similar to 17 between the Highway 6 and Desbarats. However, traffic drops to almost nothing beyond Cochrane - especially beyond Hearst - and the geometry isn't bad since the area is quite flat and forgiving.

[Dwils01]

Originally Posted by sonysnob

That's great news. Is there a website or anything for the project?

I got the info from the Sault Star about public consultation. There were to addresses listed from North Bay which I think might be where the company doing the EA with the MTO is from. This has been going on for a while but it has started to get traction for the project this past month.
This is what I found for it. It's an older one from 2010 but it's relatively the same project. http://www.lairdtownship.ca/documents/misc/Echo%20Bay%20Access.pdf

As for twinning the 17 in northern Ontario, Espanola to North Bay is the worst part for heavy traffic so that should be twinned first. Everywhere else can wait awhile.

[swimmer_spe]

For the Northern Ontario 4 laning, here are my thoughts:

1) Highway 17, Sault St Marie to Arnprior. This makes sense. They should keep working on extending the current 4 lane sections to close it in. The 4 lanes should end at the International bridge. Each section at each end should be extended, this would mean the potential for up to 6 construction zones at a time.

2) 11&17 in North Bay "Route 6" Needs to be done and then the rest of the west part of the bypass can be upgraded.

3) 11&17 Between Thunder Bay and Nipigon. Almost upgraded, keep upgrading.

4) 17 West of Thunder Bay. Upgrade to 4 lanes.

5) 11 Between Nipigon and North Bay. Upgrade to 4 lanes. After New Liskeard, the land is quite flat and lacks lots of rock outcrops.

6) Do not upgrade 17 between Sault St Marie and Nipigon. It currently is very windy and hilly. There are large rock outcrops that would need to blasted. Most truck traffic from the south and east/west already take Highway 11.

[haljackey]

Don Valley Parkway at Eglinton Avenue in Toronto

Former cloverleaf.



Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ai360/19863133985/in/dateposted/

[swimmer_spe]

Originally Posted by haljackey

Don Valley Parkway at Eglinton Avenue in Toronto

Former cloverleaf.



Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ai360/19863133985/in/dateposted/

If that were rebuilt to a Diamond, it would open up so much prime real estate.