Highways in Canada

[Metro-One]

Originally Posted by GreaterMontréal

to me it's either between the Gardner, Décarie and A-720 Ville-Marie

Yeah, the Décarie is a good contender against the Gardner.

So, my re-posting of the current bundle of highway projects in Metro-Vancouver.

First is the highway 1 expansion from 200th (the eastern terminus of the Highway 1 Gateway project) and 216th interchange project.

216A by Ian, on Flickr

216B by Ian, on Flickr


The proposed Blue Mountain / Brunette / Highway 1 interchange. Three options are being considered.

Simplified drawings of the options from the Golder Associates Environmental Impact Study:

OPTION A:


http://engage.gov.bc.ca/brunetteinterchange/technical-reports/

OPTION B:


http://engage.gov.bc.ca/brunetteinterchange/technical-reports/

OPTION C:


http://engage.gov.bc.ca/brunetteinterchange/technical-reports/


Highway #1 North Vancouver on the North Side of the Iron Worker's Memorial Bridge.

Here are the original plans.


http://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/driving...ainhwy/displayboards_january_19_2016.pdf


http://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/driving...ainhwy/displayboards_january_19_2016.pdf

Phase one is to be completed in 2018 (my guess is more 2019 now).

What is interesting is phase 2 and 3 seem to have been re-designed with a larger C/D system. Here is what is known so far:








Then there is the new Patullo Bridge.

As stated before, it will open with 4 lanes (up from the current structures 3) but this is just a political maneuver to please New West, the bridge itself will be built for a future 6 lanes through. A quick look at the renders makes it obvious that the entire design has been drawn with a 6 lane structure in mind. There will be some choke points with the 4 lane iteration, so hopefully this will execrate the 6 lane conversion. The Bridge itself will be another impressive bridge structure to add to the regions repertoire. It also looks as if it will have a couple decent ramps (such as the one connecting to the SFPR westbound.

The money shot

P1 by Ian, on Flickr

The bridge deck

p2 by Ian, on Flickr

The south side. I like the general layout and the general level of grade separations.

p3 by Ian, on Flickr

Note the two lanes merging to one on King George just before the Scott Road west bound to north bound on ramp.

p4 by Ian, on Flickr

The North side. Again, I like the general layout (it was the version I was hoping for out of the options given)

p5 by Ian, on Flickr

p6 by Ian, on Flickr

Again, note the two southbound lanes merging into one before the Royal Ave east bound to south bound on ramp. Also not the super short on ramp from Columbia Street. That is maybe the worst aspect of this design.

p7 by Ian, on Flickr


The Big One, will be the longest Bridge in BC. The impressive highway 99 upgrade / George Massey Tunnel replacement.

Steveston Hwy interchange:



17A interchange:



First is a model of the bridge looking south, to go with the previously posted photos of the Steveston and Highway 17a interchanges:

http://www.richmond.ca/agendafiles/Open_Council_10-11-2016.pdf (page 39)

Renders of the bridge, showing the BC Hydro transmission lines to be built adjacent:

http://www.richmond.ca/agendafiles/Open_Council_10-11-2016.pdf (page 47)

Location of the transmission towers:

http://www.richmond.ca/agendafiles/Open_Council_10-11-2016.pdf (page 352)

Another pic of the bridge model, this time including the Steveston interchange:

http://www.richmond.ca/agendafiles/Open_Council_10-11-2016.pdf (page 40)

New angle of the Steveston interchange which was posted previously:

http://www.richmond.ca/agendafiles/Open_Council_10-11-2016.pdf (page 41)

Another angle, looking south:

http://www.richmond.ca/agendafiles/Open_Council_10-11-2016.pdf (page 42)

Looking south again, toward the Steveston bus station:

http://www.richmond.ca/agendafiles/Open_Council_10-11-2016.pdf (page 46)

This angle shows how high the stack will be compared to the developments next door:

http://www.richmond.ca/agendafiles/Open_Council_10-11-2016.pdf


And Last, the thorn in many people's side, the 72nd intersection in the 91 is finally getting an interchange.

72A by Ian, on Flickr

72B by Ian, on Flickr

72C by Ian, on Flickr

This project costs 30 million, 20 being paid by the province, 10 from the feds. It has already been tendered, so it is happening for sure.


Again, a pretty decent list of projects, Metro Van will be adding two more major modern bridges to the region. The Eastern section of the metro will be particularly well served, with 4 new major bridges in the area (GEB, Port Mann, Pitt River, and Pattullo).

[sonysnob]

^ I look at all of that, and I just see more of the same. While I can't deny that the the Pattullo Bridge replacement is going to be an impressive structure when it's done. But, it too is just an infrastructure renewal project on an arterial road.

The Hwy 1 projects are fairly small localized widening projects, nothing that's really all that exciting to me.

The hwy 99 project is interesting to me. It's the only project that's actually a departure from what BC normally builds. The Hwy 99 project and the Port Man project are the only roads that really seem like stand out projects. The rest just seem like new up to date versions of the same roads that were built 60 years ago.

[ssiguy]

NOBODY who uses the current Pattullo Bridge is looking forward to it's replacement.

They are going to tear down a 4 lane bridge and replace it with another 4 lane bridge except now they will have to pay $4 to cross the same river they were once crossing for free. This will leave all areas South of Fraser just 1 toll-free bridge to get to the rest of Greater Vancouver.

[GreaterMontréal]

Originally Posted by ssiguy

NOBODY who uses the current Pattullo Bridge is looking forward to it's replacement.

They are going to tear down a 4 lane bridge and replace it with another 4 lane bridge except now they will have to pay $4 to cross the same river they were once crossing for free. This will leave all areas South of Fraser just 1 toll-free bridge to get to the rest of Greater Vancouver.

we all know that people will use the toll-free bridge instead.

[Procrastinational]

Originally Posted by GreaterMontréal

we all know that people will use the toll-free bridge instead.

It might take a few years, but eventually people will figure out that time is money. There are free alternatives to the 407 in the GTA, but traffic has grown steadily since it opened as far as I know.

[GreaterMontréal]

Originally Posted by Procrastinational

It might take a few years, but eventually people will figure out that time is money. There are free alternatives to the 407 in the GTA, but traffic has grown steadily since it opened as far as I know.

here in Montréal, if the traffic increases on a toll bridge, the company that owns it will hike the price.

Since December 2012, the cost of crossing the A30 bridge has increased from $1.50 at the opening to $2.80 starting February 1. An increase of 87% in just over four years. Tariffs for heavy vehicles rose by 78%.

same thing for the A-25,

big trucks of more than 1 axle will do what they can to avoid the bridges. Maybe you'll have a problem with big trucks (53''...), companies that owns them don't want to pay.

Truckers using Valleyfield as shortcut to Highway 30
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/t...ield-as-shortcut-to-highway-30-1.1359497

6 axles = more than $10, each time

[Procrastinational]

Originally Posted by GreaterMontréal

here in Montréal, if the traffic increases on a toll bridge, the company that owns it will hike the price.

Since December 2012, the cost of crossing the A30 bridge has increased from $1.50 at the opening to $2.80 starting February 1. An increase of 87% in just over four years. Tariffs for heavy vehicles rose by 78%.

same thing for the A-25,

big trucks of more than 1 axle will do what they can to avoid the bridges.

Makes sense. People aren't going to pay the toll if it doesn't help them avoid congestion. Best way to do it is to have some sort of surge pricing scheme with higher prices during peak hours, and low (or no) tolls during off peak hours.

[GreaterMontréal]

Originally Posted by Procrastinational

Makes sense. People aren't going to pay the toll if it doesn't help them avoid congestion. Best way to do it is to have some sort of surge pricing scheme with higher prices during peak hours, and low (or no) tolls during off peak hours.

A-25 has higher prices during peak hours $3.22 and $2.24 during off peak

[Metro-One]

Originally Posted by ssiguy

NOBODY who uses the current Pattullo Bridge is looking forward to it's replacement.

They are going to tear down a 4 lane bridge and replace it with another 4 lane bridge except now they will have to pay $4 to cross the same river they were once crossing for free. This will leave all areas South of Fraser just 1 toll-free bridge to get to the rest of Greater Vancouver.

Calling the current Pattullo Bridge 4 lanes is quite generous. The lanes are so narrow that if any large vehicle is traveling over the bridge 2 lanes essentially become one. There is no centre barrier either. In fact head on collisions are so common that between 10pm to 5am the bridge is reduced to 1 lane in each direction.

So many people will appreciate the new structure with modern width lanes. Also, as you may not have read (or chose not to acknowledge) the structure itself is being built for 6 full width lanes. So hopefully soon after the bridge opens it becomes obvious to all parties to utilize the full 6 lanes. I agree that opening it with 4 is annoying. We all know that this was done to please New West and to finally get their approval to build a new structure (for reference New West is a place that is so anti roads that one of their proposed solutions was to close the old bridge and do nothing afterwards). They also just happen to be situated directly in the middle of the metro area...

So while it is opening with 4 lanes, it is not a 4 lane structure.

As for tolling whispers are that a region wide tolling system for all bridges is being looked at for around the time this and the new George Massey Bridge open.

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by GreaterMontréal

Since December 2012, the cost of crossing the A30 bridge has increased from $1.50 at the opening to $2.80 starting February 1. An increase of 87% in just over four years. Tariffs for heavy vehicles rose by 78%.

$2.80 is still well worth it if it means avoiding traffic on the Island. If i'm travelling between Quebec City and Ottawa avoiding the Island saves me anywhere between 30 mins to an hour. I'd be willing to pay up to maybe $4/$5 and i'm sure many other users would have the same limitations.

[eternallyme]

Regarding the toll roads...

One thing I think is necessary is inter-operability between the Ontario and Quebec toll roads, meaning that if someone from Quebec using their routes (which need to be the same transponder!) should pay for the Ontario toll roads on their bill (with the video toll charges waived).

If that is successful, the program should expand elsewhere in North America for US E-Z Pass users.

[sa230e]

I think the BC99/Stevenson Highway interchange is really clever. It's a really cool variation on the diamond stack interchange but they managed to compress it into 3 levels instead of 4 by crossing directions of traffic. I love unconventional interchanges like that. It's also kind of amazing that they're building such a large interchange with a non-freeway. I sense debates in the future of whether this counts as Canada's second stack.

[GreaterMontréal]

I sense debates in the future of whether this counts as Canada's second stack.

what is the top 3 ?

[Martin Mtl]

Turcot reconstruction.


https://www.instagram.com/p/BPyVfFelwR5/?tagged=montreal

[Innsertnamehere]

I believe the only 4 stack in Canada is the 400/407 in Vaughan. Might be wrong though.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by eternallyme

Regarding the toll roads...

One thing I think is necessary is inter-operability between the Ontario and Quebec toll roads, leasing that if someone from Quebec using their routes (which need to be the same transponder!) should pay for the Ontario toll roads on their bill (with the video toll charges waived).

If that is successful, the program should expand elsewhere in North America for US E-Z Pass users.

QC plated vehicles already get a bill if they use the 407.

[Corndogger]

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

I believe the only 4 stack in Canada is the 400/407 in Vaughan. Might be wrong though.

I believe you're correct. Apparently if another loop ramp is added to 401/403/407 it will qualify as a 4 stack.

[TownGuy]

400/407, 4 stack

[eemy]

401/410/403 is inches away from being a 4-stack. In general, the MTO tends to make their interchanges very sprawling, which means that they're far less likely to be a technical 4-stack.

[speedog]

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

I recall everyone saying Edmonton was the first when they finished their ring road late last year. I believe most of the other cities claimed to not have ring roads due to the lake, and its based on CMA not municipal boundaries (maybe Hamilton could count?)

Honestly I didn't put that much thought into it haha.

If the word ring road is to be used in it's truest definition, then there are no ring roads in Canada as none of what we would call ring roads fully encompasses the city/town they go around.

If we are to discard that and use ring road to describe a road which encircles most of a single city's area, then I would say Edmonton most definitely has a ring road and so does Winnipeg although I believe their ring road still has some controlled level intersections. Calgary will get there at some point as the corridor is in place but just the infrastructure has to built.

So with respect to lake side cities like Oshawa, is their's a ring road or not - difficult to say. Ring roads by my estimation are meant to provide a circuitous route around a city as opposed to traffic going through a city - I suppose Edmonton's and Calgary's future one will both accomplish this. The question is whether or not Oshawa's serves this purpose or not - I know nothing of that area of Canada and certainly can't make any def Utica statement on that.