Highways in Canada

[Acajack]

Most stuff is named for dead people.

That's actually the way you are supposed to do it, according to international standards.

[swimmer_spe]

Originally Posted by Loco101

No. They will retain their names. The QEW in Ontario is named for Queen Elizabeth II's Mother (AKA the Queen Mother). Unless of course there is a movement to change them to something that doesn't have to do with the monarchy.

In Ontario, highway were stilled called "King's Highways" even when QE II was the monarch.

I never realized that till now.

[craner]

Originally Posted by Airboy

Yup now QE2

I refuse to refer to it as that.

[dmuzika]

Originally Posted by Airboy

During the Klein years he pushed the Alaska Canada México trade route. That is why the highway from around Grande Prairie in the north to the Sweetgrass boarder crossing is 4 lanes.

Sections of the Alaska highway through the Yukon are being upgraded as well. Through Canada its Yukon Highway 1, BC 37, AB 43,16, 216 (or60&19), 3 and 4 to the border.

Ah yes, the "North-South Trade Corridor" - it's still referenced in government documents. I think the one missing piece from that time was that they didn't complete a more extensive highway renumbering program to have the route have a continuous number from Coutts to the BC border. AB 43 was rerouted from Donnelly to BC 2 via AB 34 & 2 (the old section is now the N-S section of AB 49), but that was it. In fact, the last major Canadian highway renumbering connecting the Lower 48 to Alaska was in the 1950s when BC 97 was created out of BC 5 through the Okanagan and BC 2 between Cache Creek & Dawson Creek in anticipation that the Yukon and Alaska would follow suit. With the completion of the Interstates, the US/BC 97 corridor functions as scenic travel route but not a realistic direct connection to Alaska, especially the southern portions through the Okanagan (north of Cache Creek is a different story).

I think that AB 4/2/43, as well as BC 2 and the Alaska Hwy (BC 97 & YK 1) should be renumbered to TCH 2. The last major update to the Trans-Canada Highway was 30+ years ago when the Yellowhead Highway was added, and this could serve as a valuable addition. From a Canadian perspective, it would serve 4th & 5th largest metro areas and two capital cities. It would also directly pass through the Yukon and indirectly serve the NWT when accompanied by the Mackenzie Highway. From an international perspective, it would link I-15 with Alaska (AK 2) and would literally meet the definition of 'Trans-Canada' of crossing Canada. Distance wise, TCH 2 would be about 3,060 km while Yellowhead/TCH 16 is 2,860 km.

[MonctonRad]

The TCH in NB is already numbered as Rte 2.

[dmuzika]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

The TCH in NB is already numbered as Rte 2.

New Brunswick also has a TCH 16, i don't think that would cause too much confusion.

[swimmer_spe]

Originally Posted by dmuzika

Ah yes, the "North-South Trade Corridor" - it's still referenced in government documents. I think the one missing piece from that time was that they didn't complete a more extensive highway renumbering program to have the route have a continuous number from Coutts to the BC border. AB 43 was rerouted from Donnelly to BC 2 via AB 34 & 2 (the old section is now the N-S section of AB 49), but that was it. In fact, the last major Canadian highway renumbering connecting the Lower 48 to Alaska was in the 1950s when BC 97 was created out of BC 5 through the Okanagan and BC 2 between Cache Creek & Dawson Creek in anticipation that the Yukon and Alaska would follow suit. With the completion of the Interstates, the US/BC 97 corridor functions as scenic travel route but not a realistic direct connection to Alaska, especially the southern portions through the Okanagan (north of Cache Creek is a different story).

I think that AB 4/2/43, as well as BC 2 and the Alaska Hwy (BC 97 & YK 1) should be renumbered to TCH 2. The last major update to the Trans-Canada Highway was 30+ years ago when the Yellowhead Highway was added, and this could serve as a valuable addition. From a Canadian perspective, it would serve 4th & 5th largest metro areas and two capital cities. It would also directly pass through the Yukon and indirectly serve the NWT when accompanied by the Mackenzie Highway. From an international perspective, it would link I-15 with Alaska (AK 2) and would literally meet the definition of 'Trans-Canada' of crossing Canada. Distance wise, TCH 2 would be about 3,060 km while Yellowhead/TCH 16 is 2,860 km.

You do know that Ontario and east, not Trans Canada Highways have any numbering system that is followed? 7, 11, 17, 417, and a few others I know I am missing are all "TCH" in Ontario. The 104 in Nova Scotia is the TCH. What is the need for the number change?

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by swimmer_spe

You do know that Ontario and east, not Trans Canada Highways have any numbering system that is followed? 7, 11, 17, 417, and a few others I know I am missing are all "TCH" in Ontario. The 104 in Nova Scotia is the TCH. What is the need for the number change?

Why not. Make it universal across all provinces. TCH 1000 or something.

The locals will still use whatever they prefer.

[swimmer_spe]

Originally Posted by ScreamingViking

Why not. Make it universal across all provinces. TCH 1000 or something.

The locals will still use whatever they prefer.

Why change it though? What real purpose would it serve the general public?

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by swimmer_spe

What real purpose would it serve the general public?

If Bob is an uncle, purpose served.

[swimmer_spe]

Originally Posted by ScreamingViking

If Bob is an uncle, purpose served.

And if Bob isn't?

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by swimmer_spe

And if Bob isn't?

Then Uncle Norm, or Uncle Bill, will have to suffice.

[swimmer_spe]

Originally Posted by ScreamingViking

Then Uncle Norm, or Uncle Bill, will have to suffice.

So, in other words, a waste.

Got it.

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by swimmer_spe

So, in other words, a waste.

Got it.

If highway signs are "waste"

Contrarian. Got it.

[swimmer_spe]

Originally Posted by ScreamingViking

If highway signs are "waste"

Contrarian. Got it.

You want them changed. Why? What is wrong with the existing signage?

[Dengler Avenue]

I say, instead of TCH, it needs its own name and shield like that for Crowsnest or for Yellowhead.
What is it again? CAMEX?

[Acajack]

.....

[Acajack]

This discussion reminds me that the A-15 (from Montreal northward) and the QC-117 route after that, all the way to the border with NE Ontario, are also designated as the TCH. Though no one refers to them as such - but there are secondary route markers along it that have the green TCH maple leaf sign.

It's always weird to me that my GPS shows it as the TCH when I am driving there.

[Dengler Avenue]

Originally Posted by Acajack

This discussion reminds me that the A-15 (from Montreal northward) and the QC-117 route after that, all the way to the border with NE Ontario, are also designated as the TCH. Though no one refers to them as such - but there are secondary route markers along it that have the green TCH maple leaf sign.

It's always weird to me that my GPS shows it as the TCH when I am driving there.

I find the TCH routing weird past Rouyn-Noranda because it seems to make more sense to follow QC-101, QC-393, QC-388 then ON-101.
(Plus this would have guaranteed a speed limit of 90 kph on ON-101 east of Timmins except through Matheson. )

[Acajack]

Surprisingly to me, online route planners actually do say that the QC-117 routing is the fastest all-Canadian route between Western Canada and the Maritimes.

I've driven both QC-117, and the ON-17 an ON-11 routes quite a bit, and most cross-Canada traffic still seems to take one of the Ontario routes.