Highways in Canada

[speedog]

The elongated traffic circle in the highway 99 project pictures is interesting - have never seen that before but it an unique way to keep things free flowing. Question is how efficient it would be - useable only in lower traffic volumes?

[Franco401]

Originally Posted by speedog

The elongated traffic circle in the highway 99 project pictures is interesting - have never seen that before but it an unique way to keep things free flowing. Question is how efficient it would be - useable only in lower traffic volumes?

It's actually remarkably efficient as nobody will really have to deal with long detours. It would work even better than two smaller circles as there will be less entering-exiting to do.

[milomilo]

Originally Posted by speedog

The elongated traffic circle in the highway 99 project pictures is interesting - have never seen that before but it an unique way to keep things free flowing. Question is how efficient it would be - useable only in lower traffic volumes?

[IMG]https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3723/32086108103_46c50b5461_o_d.jpg[IMG]

This is quite common in UK overpasses - it works well.

[sonysnob]

Roundabouts at ramp terminals are becoming more and more common. The extension of Autoroute 410 through Sherbrooke in Quebec has roundabout roundabouts at the ramp terminals. This interchange differs slightly in that it is a "dog bone" design. There is some disagreement between highway engineers if the "dog bone" design is more effective than having proper roundabouts, even though one of the legs of the roundabout wouldn't be used by traffic. The "dog bone" design doesn't reinforce the yield control for traffic entering a roundabout from all legs.

[manny_santos]

Originally Posted by sonysnob

Roundabouts at ramp terminals are becoming more and more common. The extension of Autoroute 410 through Sherbrooke in Quebec has roundabout roundabouts at the ramp terminals. This interchange differs slightly in that it is a "dog bone" design. There is some disagreement between highway engineers if the "dog bone" design is more effective than having proper roundabouts, even though one of the legs of the roundabout wouldn't be used by traffic. The "dog bone" design doesn't reinforce the yield control for traffic entering a roundabout from all legs.

There's a new one on the 401 in Durham Region, I believe at Holt Road.

[srperrycgy]

At long last, the final phase of the Kicking Horse Canyon project has the required funding. There is also some funding for some additional 4-lane work west of Golden on Hwy 1 from Donald to Forde Station.

Federal, provincial governments announce $469M Highway 1 upgrade

BC Gov't News Release

For some context, here is the canyon in June 1966 from BC's Min. of Transportation & Infrastructure:

• Video Link

[craner]

Awesome news! Finally!! This is long overdue.
What I can't understand is why it's not ready to go to tender tomorrow ?
Instead we have to wait till 2019 before work starts.

[urbancanadian]

Originally Posted by flipper316

Couple of corrections. Don't think Highway 1 east of 208th is getting any upgrades. Yes, evenutally there's going to be a new interchange at 216th with the HOV lanes extended from 208th to 216th. As far as anything east to Chilliwack with the way the BC government drags their heels on road infrastructure I doubt we'll see anything done in our lifetimes.
Highway 99 south of 91, again I doubt we'll see anything done in our lifetimes. Stuck with an outdated 4 lane "freeway" Shame too because the money the're spending on the bridge and 99 upgrades wasn't that the same cost for the Port Mann and Highway 1 upgrade from the Cassiar to 208th?

Just because it hasn't been announced publicly, doesn't mean it isn't coming relatively soon. Projects in BC are done differently than many places because of the potential political consequences. Rebuilding Highway 1 to Abbotsford is happening, but it won't be all in one shot. Think of the 216 Street project as phase 2. Phase 1 was the recent section that included a new overpass at 248 Street. Expect the interchanges at 232 Street and 264 Street to be rebuilt sooner than later. If they did it as one big project, it would be risky politically because the public generally wants equal transit and roads spending. The government is already getting grilled on under-funding transit.

Also just because something is only four lanes, doesn't mean it's not a freeway... Anyways, every new interchange and overpass built south of the 91 (on Highway 99) is designed to accomodate at least six lanes. All that's left is for King George Boulevard and 152 Street are rebuilt. Expect that to happen shortly after the current project is complete.

Originally Posted by flipper316

And last correction, I wouldn't call GEW a freeway stub since it has traffic lights on it.

I'm talking about the main section from 192 Street to Lougheed Highway.

Originally Posted by craner

Awesome news! Finally!! This is long overdue.
What I can't understand is why it's not ready to go to tender tomorrow ?
Instead we have to wait till 2019 before work starts.

The Provincial government likes to line significant milestones up with elections, so it probably has to do with the construction timing in 2021 (next election year).

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by sonysnob

Roundabouts at ramp terminals are becoming more and more common. The extension of Autoroute 410 through Sherbrooke in Quebec has roundabout roundabouts at the ramp terminals. This interchange differs slightly in that it is a "dog bone" design. There is some disagreement between highway engineers if the "dog bone" design is more effective than having proper roundabouts, even though one of the legs of the roundabout wouldn't be used by traffic. The "dog bone" design doesn't reinforce the yield control for traffic entering a roundabout from all legs.

There is a double one at the Wakefield exit on the newer extension of Autoroute 5 north of Gatineau. It looks nice but I've noticed this winter when I've been up there to go skiing that it's a bit tight for sightlines when the snowbanks are really high (as they were earlier this winter).

https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Chemin+...28d7814713!8m2!3d45.6308307!4d-75.932157

[Metro-One]

Many interchange projects have been using roundabouts in BC for around a decade now, from GEW, to Kelowna, to Victoria, etc...

This is the first dog bone I have seen though.

[TownGuy]

Originally Posted by manny_santos

There's a new one on the 401 in Durham Region, I believe at Holt Road.

Yep Holt Road exit definitely has them. That whole interchange seems like overkill for what's there. I know it serves Darlington but why was it so overbuilt? There's 2 exit lanes for instance.

[The Chemist]

Originally Posted by srperrycgy

At long last, the final phase of the Kicking Horse Canyon project has the required funding. There is also some funding for some additional 4-lane work west of Golden on Hwy 1 from Donald to Forde Station.

Federal, provincial governments announce $469M Highway 1 upgrade

BC Gov't News Release

For some context, here is the canyon in June 1966 from BC's Min. of Transportation & Infrastructure:

• Video Link

This is great news. Once that stretch is done the drive from Calgary to Vancouver will be MUCH nicer (and safer).

I presume there will be quite a bit of tunnelling on this section, given the price tag and the very difficult geography.

[Metro-One]

Actually, no tunnels that I can see now. First concept was a 3KM long tunnel, then a mix of tunnels and bridges, now it seems only bridges and retaining walls. Looks like some mountain shoulders will be largely completely removed.

The sheer lack of tunnels in not only BC, but North America in general has always puzzled me.

The highways that connect my local areas in Japan for example have countless tunnels. Drive 50 kilometers in any direction on the highway and you will pass through at least 5 of them. There is one stretch to where my friend lives that is more tunnel than not for about a 30 km stretch, with tunnels up to 4km long. Keep in mind that this is no where near the major cities and only connects urban areas no larger than Halifax and Victoria.

Come to Canada and the US, and you can cross the entire western cordillera with only passing through a single short tunnel (or none at all).

[millerman]

Yes, tunnels have been avoided in BC for a while. The large rock cut on the north side of the Park Bridge on the TCH was originally assessed for either a tunnel or through cut, but the deputy minister at the time had a distaste for tunnels, so a 1 million m3 through cut was the chosen method to pass through the ridge. Similar for the lower Kicking Horse Canyon, as tunnels are viewed as risky. The rock type along the lower stretch of canyon where the route is planned is literally "rotten" sedimentary rock. Tunneling that material would require completely reinforced tunnel walls and there would be risk with rock stability, which could lead to cost over runs. I'm sure they deal with this in Japan and are used to those conditions, but in this province I think they error on the conservative side and would rather construct with open cut (drill blast) methods. That's what I've been told by a couple of very senior contacts with the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.

[craner]

^Interesting, thanks for the inside info.
I can understand wanting to avoid the inherent risks of tunnels. I just hope the new highway is built to a high standard (which I'm sure it will be).

[swimmer_spe]

Do the railways own the air rights?

[Metro-One]

Originally Posted by craner

^Interesting, thanks for the inside info.
I can understand wanting to avoid the inherent risks of tunnels. I just hope the new highway is built to a high standard (which I'm sure it will be).

The New selected alignment looks nearly the same as the previous with the two tunnels. There are a few more Bridge structures it seems.

Yeah, western North America really seems to prefer cutting mountains in half instead of using tunnels. This is seen along every interstate in the US and highways in BC. As mentioned above the cut done just before the Yoho Bridge at Kicking Horse is an excellent example, and pretty impressive to drive through.

[eternallyme]

Originally Posted by srperrycgy

At long last, the final phase of the Kicking Horse Canyon project has the required funding. There is also some funding for some additional 4-lane work west of Golden on Hwy 1 from Donald to Forde Station.

Federal, provincial governments announce $469M Highway 1 upgrade

BC Gov't News Release

For some context, here is the canyon in June 1966 from BC's Min. of Transportation & Infrastructure:

• Video Link

Still need to move forward on twinning in Yoho National Park - are there any plans for such? I know it will be tougher than in Banff since there isn't the benefit of a broad valley to build there.

[Metro-One]

Actually the federal government did last year announce that they are continuing their Banff twinning through Yoho Park.

This first phase is the first 8 or so km west from the Alberta/BC border.

I believe. Memory is a little foggy.

[jmt18325]

The first 6 Kms in Yoho will be twinned by spring 2018. This section had its EA done years ago. The EA for the entire remaining 40 kms is underway and will also be done Spring 2018