Highways in Canada

[eternallyme]

Originally Posted by mersar

Scarily Calgary has a real life example of that off ramp (at Stoney Trail NW as it merges onto eastbound 16th Ave). Witnessed more than one near miss there.

That is temporary though? Once Stoney Trail is extended to Glenmore, that situation would be rectified?

[mersar]

Originally Posted by eternallyme

That is temporary though? Once Stoney Trail is extended to Glenmore, that situation would be rectified?

I'd hope either then (since that ramp would also act for the NB->EB traffic), or the Transcanada/Bowfort Road interchange would prompt them to not end the one lane before the ramp. But both of those are a potential decade or more in the future these days.

[sonysnob]

Originally Posted by will_g

I just drove back from Montreal on Monday and had a few questions.

[1] What exactly are they doing at the top of the Decarie? The project looks extensive, which led me to conclude that they are completely rebuilding the interchange? It was a little bit confusing, in fact, I was coming from Decarie NB trying to get onto 40 WB to head back towards Ontario and found myself back on the Decarie SB. I just took that to 20 WB instead and went out that way.

MTQ is replacing the ramp from A-40 West to A-15 South with a new right hand exit. This work involves a new service road structure, as well as some ramp improvements northbound along A-15 to the west 40.

Originally Posted by will_g

[2] Any plans to finish the 20 through Ile-Perrot? I had forgotten that the 20 isn't a full expressway through there, although it being a holiday Monday didn't impact on my trip.

One day. They have a conceptual plan ... but with the completion of A-30 around the south shore this year, I can't see it being high on the priority list.

Originally Posted by will_g

[3] What's the explanation for the 20 near the Turcot Interchange? Namely, why was it designed so as the WB traffic is on the left side of the road and the EB traffic is on the right side of the road. This continues until the interchange with Highway 138 I believe.

It's just the way it was designed. I am sure it didn't need to be designed that way, but until it falls over it seems to work OK.

[haljackey]

Take a drive down Highbury Avenue: London's only 'freeway'

• Video Link

More info in the video description.

[sonysnob]

Some new photos of new section of A-50 between Highway 315 and Montebello:

[FrAnKs]

How much km are with 2 lanes on each sides? Wasnt it supposed to be all a super-2 ? ... tough, it looks ready to open very soon !

[sonysnob]

Originally Posted by FrAnKs

How much km are with 2 lanes on each sides? Wasnt it supposed to be all a super-2 ? ... tough, it looks ready to open very soon !

I think about 7 or 8 km of the highway will be four lanes in this section. There may be another short section closer to the Hwy 317 interchange as well.

[FrAnKs]

Originally Posted by sonysnob

I think about 7 or 8 km of the highway will be four lanes in this section. There may be another short section closer to the Hwy 317 interchange as well.

Very interresting and strange descision aswell.

[haljackey]

A couple videos of Canada's widest segment of highway: the 401 in Mississauga between the 403/410 and 427 with 18 lanes.

Eastbound during the day:
• Video Link

Westbound during the night:
• Video Link

More info in the video descriptions.

[FrAnKs]

Nice Haljackey , did you filmed Quebec roads aswell ?

[sonysnob]

I am surprised that all of the westbound lanes haven't been diverted to the collectors yet. I really figured they would have been by now. Maybe they are waiting until the eastbound lanes are done and will shift them both over at once. The eastbound collector lanes must nearly be complete as well.

How come you didnt film the eastbound construction zone during the day? Had any overhead signs been erected over the future collector lanes?

[haljackey]

Originally Posted by FrAnKs

Nice Haljackey , did you filmed Quebec roads aswell ?

Actually I've only been to Hull/Gatineau in Quebec.

Originally Posted by sonysnob

How come you didnt film the eastbound construction zone during the day?

Two reasons:

1. There really wasn't much to see other than a traffic jam and concrete medians. I started to film when traffic lightened up which was past the 410 exit.

2. The camera I was using can only record 2GB of video, which amounts to about 7 mins of 720p footage. I aimed to use this time to showcase the 18-lane segment of the 401.
-I have, however ordered a dashcam that will film in 1080p and will continuously record.

Originally Posted by sonysnob

Had any overhead signs been erected over the future collector lanes?

No. I didn't see any signs on the U/C eastbound collector carriageway.

[sonysnob]

The trouble with the 401 through Mississauga is that it is hard to get a sense of just how wide it is from ground level. Unlike some of sections through Toronto, there isn't a hill to really show it off. There is a berm along the north side of the highway near Pearson Airport that I tried to shoot from in the spring, but it just isn't tall enough to show off the highway. Mississauga is planning on building a new overpass between Dixie Road and Renforth Avenue in medium term. I am looking forward to it's completion because it creates a new vantage point of the 18 lane section. I think there would also be some good views from some of the fills at the ends of the flyovers at the 403 interchange, but there don't seem to be any holes in the fences along Tomken Road to make them really accessible.

I did notice that the should of the express lanes just past the core to collector split at the beginning of the video had been resurfaced. I know I have been saying this for a while, but that seems indicative that traffic will be switched to the eastbound collector lanes sooner rather than later.

[The_Architect]

^ This gives an idea:


.

[sonysnob]

That is definitely an image where the viewer gets a sense of scale.

[haljackey]

And even with all those lanes, there's still backup. Problem is 18 lanes narrow to just 8 past the Highway 427 interchange.

If the highway was 12 or 14 lanes the whole way it would probably move traffic more efficiently than what exists now. A good example where more lanes does not equal better traffic flow.

Still, it's impressive though

[eemy]

To be fair, a very large number of vehicles exit onto the 427 at that point. I actually generally find the backups are worse where the 409 merges, but that may simply be unique to when I have traveled through there. The 407 is definitely a guilty indulgence sometimes though.

[sonysnob]

Some new photos of some construction projects from around Toronto that I shot after taking the long home after work:

Highway 404:

The extension of a four-lane freeway some 12km northerly

Looking south from Doane Road:


Looking south towards the Doane Road overpass:


Looking north from just north of the Doane Road overpass. An interchange has been roughed in alongside the future 404 carriageways despite the fact that it has been deferred.


Looking south towards the Queensville Road interchange (the next overpass north of the Doane Road structure). There will be an interchange here:



Highway 7:


The widening of an existing roadway to a four-lane rural cross-section:

Looking west from west of Kinsale:


Two views looking easterly through Kinsale (the first from 2006, the second during construction in 2012):





And finally, a large deviation on my way home from work:

Highway 69:


Extension of four lane highway south of Sudbury. Photo location is circled.

View looking north towards the wildlife overpass that was constructed just north of the Hwy 637 interchange.

[haljackey]

Oh cool I like the wildlife overpass!

Is the 404 going anywhere or are they just extending it because they can? I am not too familiar with that part of the province... the 400 is close by.

[Innsertnamehere]

the Current extension is going to Keswick, but the plan is to eventually expand it to highway 12 between Sunderland and Beaverton. at least that is what it says on wikipedia..