Highways in Canada

[Pinus]

Originally Posted by Loco101

I much prefer the Québec sign. Kind of sad that it has been shot at a few times.

The NL sign is pretty boring but fine. It should be bilingual because it's on the border with Quebec. The French text can be smaller. Also, having four flags is a bit much. It really only needs the provincial and Labradorian flags in my opinion. The Union Jack needs to go. Btw, I'm a Northern Ontarian who's not fond of having a provincial flag that has the Union Jack on it.

Back to that highway. I was in Labrador and that part of Quebec back in 2003. It was a different sign back then. I'm hoping to drive the Trans-Labrador highway within the next 5 years. I'm amazed at how much of it has been paved.

I for one enjoy our colonial heritage and wish it was promoted more, instead of flying the bloody Yank flag in so many places.

#CANZUK

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Pinus

#CANZUK

With BREXIT and Donald Trump, I think the time has arrived to strengthen Commonwealth ties again - maybe the creation of a a new economic union with free trade and no work permits required???

[Loco101]

Originally Posted by swimmer_spe

You may want to brush up on your NL history.

I think I know NL quite well. The Union Jack was commonly raised on flagpoles not just in Newfoundland but in Canada until the 1960s so I'm not just picking on NL. The flag was also flown at the Ontario Legislative Assembly until some time in the 1990s. It doesn't sit well with me because it doesn't represent where I live and most of people who live among me.

[Loco101]

I do agree that we need to strengthen ties with the UK and other commonwealth countries during these difficult times with the U.S.. However, I don't agree that any of our governments in Canada should be flying flags of foreign countries.

[vid]

Originally Posted by Pinus

I for one enjoy our colonial heritage and wish it was promoted more, instead of flying the bloody Yank flag in so many places.

#CANZUK

Not everyone enjoys our colonial heritage though. It's not exactly a uniting force in this country.

[swimmer_spe]

Originally Posted by Loco101

I think I know NL quite well. The Union Jack was commonly raised on flagpoles not just in Newfoundland but in Canada until the 1960s so I'm not just picking on NL. The flag was also flown at the Ontario Legislative Assembly until some time in the 1990s. It doesn't sit well with me because it doesn't represent where I live and most of people who live among me.

It very much does represent NL, and also Canada.

[ghYHZ]

Originally Posted by Loco101

.......It doesn't sit well with me because it doesn't represent where I live and most of people who live among me.

Speak for yourself as you're certainly entitled. Just as it may mean nothing to you……it does to me as it represents my heritage as a Canadian.

[Pinus]

Originally Posted by vid

Not everyone enjoys our colonial heritage though. It's not exactly a uniting force in this country.

It doesn't have to be. It is our heritage whether people like it or not. You can try to wipe it out, sweep it under the rug, erase it, etc. But we are a commonwealth country and our heritage is tied strongly to the United Kingdom. And I'm proud to have the United Kingdom flag fly high across this country.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Tone

Yes I heard this story too. I've also being told that Duplessis is responsible for the missing section of the A40 bypass north of Trois-Rivières. Since he was from there and it was his electoral circonscription, he wanted the highway to go trough the city so the transit traffic would boost the local economy. The MTQ still owns all the land to eventually complete the highway.

Here's roughly the original planned A40 alignment in orange before Duplessis's evil mind had it his way:

Are there any plans to finish the A40 bypass around Trois Rivieres?

I always thought that an interesting little stretch of road. I haven't encountered many small Canadian cities where a 60s freeway cuts right through the heart of town. It reminds me of what'd you would typically see in the US, but only rarely in Canada.

[osirisboy]

Originally Posted by esquire

Are there any plans to finish the A40 bypass around Trois Rivieres?

I always thought that an interesting little stretch of road. I haven't encountered many small Canadian cities where a 60s freeway cuts right through the heart of town. It reminds me of what'd you would typically see in the US, but only rarely in Canada.

Wow that is a really great freeway. Wish Vancouver had that!

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

Wow that is a really great freeway. Wish Vancouver had that!

Why? Freeways are extremely hostile to pedestrians, cyclists and local traffic and thus kill the surrounding area of all life. The trend these days is to convert urban freeways into boulevards to make the city more vibrant.

If Vancouver had a freeway through the middle of it, it would become a very dull and boring city. The type of city where you roll up the streets at night.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by roger1818

Why? Freeways are extremely hostile to pedestrians, cyclists and local traffic and thus kill the surrounding area of all life. The trend these days is to convert urban freeways into boulevards to make the city more vibrant.

If Vancouver had a freeway through the middle of it, it would become a very dull and boring city. The type of city where you roll up the streets at night.

Not immediately or even fatally so, but yes the human-friendly urban qualities of the city would be somewhat diminished in those areas close to the highway.

[esquire]

^ I've walked through downtown Trois Rivieres and there is no question that the freeway is a scar through the city. It's interesting because that type of arrangement is relatively rare in Canada (at least in smaller cities), but I wouldn't ever say that it was a good idea to put it there.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by esquire

^ I've walked through downtown Trois Rivieres and there is no question that the freeway is a scar through the city. It's interesting because that type of arrangement is relatively rare in Canada (at least in smaller cities), but I wouldn't ever say that it was a good idea to put it there.

I am familiar with T-R and while I agree that A-40 is a scar on one particular part of the central city, I don't find you really notice its effects once you get downtown which is some distance away.

Even with that, I'd trade most aspects of downtown T-R with those of my own city (Gatineau). There are only a few things that are better downtown here than there.

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Even with that, I'd trade most aspects of downtown T-R with those of my own city (Gatineau). There are only a few things that are better downtown here than there.

Of course Gatineau also has a couple freeways that cross each other near the core and almost completely isolate it from the rest of the city.

[Dengler Avenue]

Speaking of Quebec, it amazes me how it never runs out of numbers for spur autoroutes (i.e. 930 for 30 around Châteauguay). Here’s my hypothetical question: if another spur route of A30 is created in Montreal and that it doesn’t go back to A30 on the other end, will it be renumbered A1130? (530, 730 and 930 are all taken.)

I know Quebec follows the Interstate numbering system, and so far I’ve never seen one with 4 digits.

[sonysnob]

Originally Posted by roger1818

Of course Gatineau also has a couple freeways that cross each other near the core and almost completely isolate it from the rest of the city.

Both Autoroute 5 and 50 look like they were placed beside natural and other pre-existing features that already isolated downtown from other parts of the city. A-50 runs north-south beside a river and a railway, and A-5 runs through a valley beside a bay to the river. Both of these barriers existed prior to the autoroute era.

I don't disagree that expressways can function as a barrier, and have cut off sections of cities from each other, but it seems that too often people express this idea without looking at the location specifics in each city. </soapbox>

[MonctonRad]

The Saint John Thruway (NB Highway 1) cuts a swath right through the centre of that city, and at the time it was built, a number of fine buildings were sacrificed (including the railway station). Uptown Saint John and the south end are now completely cut off from the rest of the city.

Admittedly though, given the geographic realities of the city, there was probably little choice where to place the highway..........

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Admittedly though, given the geographic realities of the city, there was probably little choice where to place the highway..........

Pretty simple: Millidgeville. It was the preferred option for residents at the time. It would have saved some of the central neighbourhoods which were destroyed and would have connected UNBSJ and the Regional Hospital much better than they currently are.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by JHikka

Pretty simple: Millidgeville. It was the preferred option for residents at the time. It would have saved some of the central neighbourhoods which were destroyed and would have connected UNBSJ and the Regional Hospital much better than they currently are.

Good point. Placing the highway here would have left Saint John much better connected.

I have a vague recollection of the Saint John railway station before the thruway was built. I was there precisely once (to catch the train) as a child, probably in the late 1960's. I remember a fairly grand building with a bit of a civic square in front.



Found a photo. To lose this building was a crime...........