Highways in Canada

[1overcosc]

Originally Posted by hipster duck

I think it's a glass half full/empty perspective.

On one hand, you could argue that a free connector highway would encourage more people to divert onto the parallel toll road.

Issue with that: the 412 is owned by the province so they get the revenues, but most of the 407 is privately owned so the province gets nothing. That approach would essentially be subsidizing a private company.

[hipster duck]

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

Issue with that: the 412 is owned by the province so they get the revenues, but most of the 407 is privately owned so the province gets nothing. That approach would essentially be subsidizing a private company.

Oh, I see. I was under the impression that the new section east of Brock Road is to be operated by the province.

[Innsertnamehere]

It is. The mainline 407 is provincially controlled east of Brock Road.

[1overcosc]

Originally Posted by hipster duck

Oh, I see. I was under the impression that the new section east of Brock Road is to be operated by the province.

It is, but most traffic coming in off the 412 wouldn't be on the highway for long before they hit Brock.

[TownGuy]

I also think it's a little silly that you have pay a toll to get to the toll. For such a short little highway it seems unnecessary.

[eemy]

I doubt you'll end up paying two tolls. My understanding is that it's supposed to be seamless between the two highways.

[Innsertnamehere]

Yes you will get a single bill regardless. People just don't like having to pay to use the 412. It would be an extra 3 bucks or so to use it to get from the 401 to the 407.

[ttcfan4644]

http://imageshack.com/a/img922/5021/AxBd8c.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img924/911/n7fTpA.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img923/9800/hoMX9O.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2g607FjXjeU

Now that eastern Markham is having a massive increased development, why didn't the 407 ETR complete the interchanges at Ninth Line and Donald Cousens Parkway when the highway was already extended east to Oshawa. That would have been a better idea if the 407 ETR completed those interchanges in the near future. Also when the 407 ETR is extended east to Oshawa the traffic has been building up dramatically east of Highway 404 that resulted an occasional traffic jam east of McCowan and at York Durham line. It would be better if the 407 ETR is 10 lanes east to York Durham line and 6 lanes east to Brock road so that the entire 407 ETR is 10 lanes or more through the entire York Region. Markham's population is about to exceed 350000 people and roads needs to get expanded to meet traffic demand.

[Acajack]

There is nothing that makes me angrier than being stuck in a traffic jam on a highway if I am paying a toll on top of that.

[Metro-One]

So during my trip in Canada this month, I had to go to the Okanagan Valley. Here is a video I captured descending into and through Osoyoos via the #3 before continuing north along the 97. The decent into Osoyoos is maybe my favorite section of road in Canada. Sorry if it is a little shaky, the pavement needs a little TLC

• Video Link

[ttcfan4644]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

So during my trip in Canada this month, I had to go to the Okanagan Valley. Here is a video I captured descending into and through Osoyoos via the #3 before continuing north along the 97. The decent into Osoyoos is maybe my favorite section of road in Canada. Sorry if it is a little shaky, the pavement needs a little TLC

• Video Link

Was it hot there?

[Metro-One]

Was 36 at the time I took this video The aroma of Ponderosa Pine and sagebrush is also amazing as you drive through.

[sonysnob]

^ That's a cool video. The southern part of BC's interior is definitely somewhere I'd like to one day have the opportunity to spend some time in.

[sonysnob]

Some photos of the Highway 17 (the Trans-Canada Highway) in the upper Ottawa Valley in Ontario. This section of Highway 17 is probably the busiest non-twinned section of Trans-Canada in Ontario.



















http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_17_images/Hwy17_p4d_images.htm

[swimmer_spe]

Originally Posted by ttcfan4644

http://imageshack.com/a/img922/5021/AxBd8c.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img924/911/n7fTpA.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img923/9800/hoMX9O.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2g607FjXjeU

Now that eastern Markham is having a massive increased development, why didn't the 407 ETR complete the interchanges at Ninth Line and Donald Cousens Parkway when the highway was already extended east to Oshawa. That would have been a better idea if the 407 ETR completed those interchanges in the near future. Also when the 407 ETR is extended east to Oshawa the traffic has been building up dramatically east of Highway 404 that resulted an occasional traffic jam east of McCowan and at York Durham line. It would be better if the 407 ETR is 10 lanes east to York Durham line and 6 lanes east to Brock road so that the entire 407 ETR is 10 lanes or more through the entire York Region. Markham's population is about to exceed 350000 people and roads needs to get expanded to meet traffic demand.

That section is privately owned and operated. It was leased in 1999 and they have a 99 year lease. Which means legally they operate it till 2098. They do as they choose.

[1overcosc]

Well, given that the whole reason why people pay the high tolls to use the highway in the first place is to escape traffic, it's very much in ETR's interest to keep the highway flowing with improvements.

[SteelTown]

The Red Hill extension is set to open on Friday

Originally Posted by thomax

Hamilton Community News: Upper Red Hill Valley Parkway to open Friday

Road runs from Stone Church exit ramp straight through to Rymal Road

By Gord Bowes | 8/31/2016

Starting Friday evening, drivers leaving the Red Hill Valley Parkway will no longer have to turn at Stone Church Road.

The new Upper Red Hill Valley Parkway, running from the Stone Church exit ramp straight through to Rymal Road, is set to open to traffic around 5 p.m.

A city spokeswoman said the curb lane may be closed at times while the final touches are put on the new four-lane road.

Highland Road will remain closed between Upper Mount Albion and Pritchard for the time being; a date for its reopening has not been determined.

[ttcfan4644]

Originally Posted by swimmer_spe

That section is privately owned and operated. It was leased in 1999 and they have a 99 year lease. Which means legally they operate it till 2098. They do as they choose.

The 407 is currently widening to ten lanes between Highway 410 and Highway 427 but they didn't put up that information on the 407 website.

Also I'm pretty sure the 407 ETR makes good money because the 407 made over 1 billion dollars last year so they could make several improvements.

[Horus]

Originally Posted by swimmer_spe

That section is privately owned and operated. It was leased in 1999 and they have a 99 year lease. Which means legally they operate it till 2098. They do as they choose.

They are obligated to meet traffic volume requirements as a condition of their lease. This includes widening the highway where volume warrants.

The lease guaranteed both the extension of the highway in the east and the west, and the addition of new lanes to provide expansion of the highway as traffic volume grew.

As the concessionaire for the highway, 407 ETR is responsible for all maintenance, construction and customer service and also pays the full cost of police enforcement along the highway. The highway lease requires that 407 ETR attract and maintain certain levels of traffic. If certain traffic thresholds are not met, a congestion payment to the Province may be required.

https://www.407etr.com/en/highway/corporate/background-information1.html

[TownGuy]

I'm sure they'll get on it. They've actually done a great job expanding the 407 when needed. With the extension I'm not sure anyone really knew how much it would affect traffic levels. The 401 westbound seems to be worse through Whitby/Oshawa after the extension also. Why they kept the newly constructed stretch at 3 lanes per direction is beyond me.