Road repairs

[thistleclub]

Lane restrictions Wednesday on Sherman Access
(Hamilton Spectator, Dec 18 2013)

Drivers can expect minor delays and lane restrictions Wednesday as city crews work to repair street lights along the Sherman Access.

Hamilton's Public Works department will close one lane of the access between the Sherman Cut and the Kenilworth Access between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

The city says traffic will still run in both directions and Hamilton Police will be onsite to help direct traffic.

The west side of the access will be unaffected.

The city is replacing the copper wire in the light systems with aluminum wire as a result of ongoing theft of copper wire in the lights.

[thistleclub]

Pipeline work to close Jerseyville Road
(Hamilton Spectator, Jan 21 2014)

The city will close a section of Jerseyville Road for about a month for underground pipeline maintenance.

The road closure between Highway 52 and Alberton Road will start Feb. 3 and last about four weeks, depending on the weather.

Enbridge Pipelines is preparing to replace sections of its Line 10 and 11 oil pipelines, which run south from a Westover Hub to New York State and a Nanticoke refinery, respectively.

It was unclear Monday which pipeline is in need of extended repairs, but both travel through the general area affected by the closure.

[middeljohn]

Is the Queen St mountain access still closed? The most recent time I was in that area was in late November and it was still closed then I think.

[CaptainKirk]

Originally Posted by middeljohn

Is the Queen St mountain access still closed?

No. It's been open for a while.

The most recent time I was in that area was in late November and it was still closed then I think.

Nope. It opened November 13. Check the previous page of this thread.

[middeljohn]

Originally Posted by CaptainKirk

No. It's been open for a while.



Nope. It opened November 13. Check the previous page of this thread.

Thanks. My bad should've checked.

[middeljohn]

I checked out the new Queen St access when I was in Hamilton over the weekend, definitely an improvement! I like the rough median in between the two directions, should definitely help prevent head-on collisions.

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by middeljohn

I checked out the new Queen St access when I was in Hamilton over the weekend, definitely an improvement! I like the rough median in between the two directions, should definitely help prevent head-on collisions.

It is a nice road now.

Still, it would have been nice to put in a bike lane if they could have, or at least more of a shoulder where bikes might find a space.

[coalminecanary]

Hamilton’s Public Works Department will close all lanes of the Claremont Access this weekend to safely complete preventative maintenance to the underside of the Arkledun Avenue bridge (Jolley Cut) which spans the Claremont Access.

The full road closure (both directions) will begin at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 1st until 5:00 p.m. that evening. Work will continue during the same hours on Sunday, February 2nd.

I predict the world will keep turning with minimal traffic impact even with 7 mountain access lanes taken out of service.

[SteelTown]

And Beckett Drive is even heated! Made a huge difference today.

[Beedok]

Heating an entire road? That seems like a rediculous waste of money...

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by Beedok

Heating an entire road? That seems like a rediculous waste of money...

Maybe not. In the long run it may save money - balance installation and operation costs vs. the cost of maintaining roads in the winter, especially on steeper grades like this one where they plow more often and probably put down more salt; plus the savings on road damage from salt and freeze-thaw cycles, meaning longer periods between repaving and rebuilding the road. If it makes the road safer there's savings there too in terms of reduced accidents, injuries, and lower emergency response costs.

SteelTown posted this Spec video in the Canada forum highways thread showing how they installed a liquid-based system under the MacNab St. bus terminal:
http://www.thespec.com/video/2498004

That's the same system GO has been putting in when it rebuilds platforms.

There are also electric systems that use cables which act as heating elements.

I'm curious what they used for Beckett Dr. - its length and grade may have meant they couldn't go with the glycol tubes, or maybe they installed a series of separate systems each with their own pump.


Here's a neat story about solar-powered glass road surfaces: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/repor...rticle4197451/

[matt602]

Does the one at the terminal even work properly or at all? There always seems to be a ton of snow and slush on the road surface there. A lot more than in the picture of Beckett.

[thistleclub]

Stoney Creek residents get urbanized roads
(Stoney Creek News, Kevin Werner, Feb 19 2014)

It will take at least six months for the city to substantially complete the $8 million reconstruction project that will see Kilbourn Avenue, Southmeadow Crescent and Pine Drive get new sewers, watermains and sidewalks this year.

During a public meeting Feb. 13 held at the Stoney Creek Municipal Service Centre, about 60 residents turned out to learn more about how their days will become more challenging when construction crews start showing up near their doorstep starting at 7 a.m.

City staff said the project includes replacing sewer and water mains, installing sidewalks, and lowering the roads to accommodate the new drainage system.

The tender for the project is expected to be issued in March, with a possible start date in April and May, depending upon the contractor’s schedule. The work will be ongoing throughout the summer until about November.

The first coat of asphalt will be laid in late fall, but it won’t be until late in 2015 when the final asphalt coat is put down, said Ward 10 councillor Maria Pearson.

“We want to do it once, and do it right,” she said.

Pearson said she has been working hard to get the necessary money for the construction project that has been needed for quite a while.

“It’s a capital project I have been fighting for, for 10 years,” she said.


Read it in full here

[thistleclub]

Threat of Skyway closures alarms city
(Hamilton Spectator, Matthew van Dongen, Mar 5 2014)

The city is worried looming repairs to the Burlington Bay Skyway will create kilometres-long highway queues and clog local roads with tens of thousands of diverted motorists if the bridge closes during the day.

Provincial transportation officials say they don't expect QEW traffic to be "significantly impacted" by the protective painting of structural steel on the Toronto-bound bridge, which is slated to begin this spring and continue over three years.

But some city officials say they've been told extremely high winds combined with tented, hanging work platforms could force the emergency closure of the bridge.

If that happened at rush hour — as opposed to late at night when closures are scheduled — "people would be lined up all the way to Grimsby," said Councillor Chad Collins.

"I think people understand every road construction project comes with a certain amount of inconvenience built in, but the idea of a (daytime) bridge closure on one of the country's busiest highways is frankly scary to contemplate."

City traffic operations manager Martin White said he is still waiting for project details from the province, including a "queue analysis" for various construction scenarios.

But in the event of a closure, "ideally, we wouldn't want that (diverted) traffic on our roadways, because there's nowhere to put it," said White, noting the Red Hill Valley Parkway is already at 85 per cent capacity on the average weekday.

The city has asked MTO officials to attend a March 17 meeting to talk about the Skyway project and other upcoming bridge and highway repairs.

In an email, MTO spokesperson Astrid Poei said there will be scheduled closures of the Toronto-bound Skyway over the three-year project, but only at night. Traffic will be detoured along Eastport Drive, not the parkway.


Read it in full here.

[ScreamingViking]

I get that risks need to be considered and traffic detour plans readied, but Collins and Clark are being a bit alarmist.

The work needs to be done if we want to ensure that a 56-year-old iconic bridge remains in good condition. That may mean an occasional disruption, but we'll live through it.

[thistleclub]

Councillor urges minister to green light Waterdown road plans
(Flamborough Review, Catherine O’Hara, Mar 6 2014)

Waterdown’s pending road improvement projects and were the focus of last Friday’s discussions between Ward 15 Councillor Judi Partridge, Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale MPP Ted McMeekin and Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Glen Murray.

Murray was in Hamilton to deliver a speech on infrastructure investments and to tour the site of the future James Street North GO Station. Following his address, Partridge spent about 30 minutes talking about Waterdown’s traffic woes and transportation needs with the minister, in the hopes he can expedite the projects that are currently awaiting Ministry of the Environment decisions.

The projects include the north-south corridor along Waterdown Road and improvements to Parkside Drive between Main Street North and Hwy. 6.
Time, said Partridge is of the essence as these road improvement projects are “urgent for the community.”

Waterdown has experienced a housing boom that has resulted in increased vehicular traffic through the village core. The projects, said Partridge, will provide relief on arterial roads and help reduce cut-through traffic on residential streets.

“Waterdown is under a development siege with constant traffic backups on Dundas Street up to two kilometres in both directions through the village,” states a City of Hamilton report presented to Murray. “We seriously need the minister’s help to make a final ruling on both new road infrastructure improvements in the next month, if possible, to allow these roads to be built.”

Partridge said the projects are being challenged by citizens, who have requested individual Environmental Assessments be conducted.

Four Part II Order Requests were received in July 2012 pertaining to the Waterdown Road Corridor project.

While Hamilton, Burlington and Halton Region staff have provided the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) with all necessary information, the EA decision is still pending.

Until the minister rules on the requests, the city is unable to move forward on the land acquisition process for the north-south corridor.

“Development continues in Waterdown and there is no relief in the existing Waterdown/Aldershot transportation network because approvals are being held up by the MOE,” reads the city’s report.

The City of Hamilton continues to wait for a decision on the Parkside Drive improvement plans, which received one Part II Order Request roughly eight months ago.

“The longer this is drawn out, the worse it gets,” said Partridge of the traffic gridlock on Waterdown roads. “We just want a decision made.”

Partridge said Minister Murray recognized the “urgency” and indicated that his staff members, who were present at the meeting, would follow up on the projects. The councillor expects to hear back from the ministry soon.

“Hopefully, we can get positive decisions before the end of the month,” said Partridge.

Regional transit was also top of mind for the councillor as she met with Murray.

Partridge, who would like to see GO Transit extend its bus route into Waterdown, spoke extensively about the opportunities for GO to service her constituents and the broader Flamborough community.


Read it in full here.

[thistleclub]

Construction to resume on Barton Street between Nash and Centennial
(Stoney Creek News, Mar 3 2014)

Get ready for another summer of fun on Barton Street.

Reconstruction of the busy street between Centennial and Nash resumes this week.

Expect delays as lane restrictions will be in place until the project is completed in late fall, says Hamilton’s public works department.

As part of the work, Nash Road north of Barton will be partially closed for several weeks and motorist are advised to follow the posted detour route to access all businesses. The restrictions are required so crews can complete a large water main connection within the intersection.

The two-year project on Barton Street began last July. The work involves the installation of a water main to address future growth, full road, curb and sidewalk reconstruction, as well as new traffic infrastructure.

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by thistleclub

Councillor urges minister to green light Waterdown road plans
(Flamborough Review, Catherine O’Hara, Mar 6 2014)

Another councillor going straight to the top to promote local issues.

Great that she pressed on GO transit too.

[thmx]

Anyone notice the new LED street lights downtown? They look so much better.

"300 new LED lights are being installed downtown to light sidewalks/streets for public safety & energy savings" - @cityofhamilton


I can't wait 'til the whole city eventually switches over to LED, I hate the orange lights.

[mattgrande]

You can see the difference they make: http://i.imgur.com/e5Bh4gu.jpg