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2. I'd settle for more passing lanes along that stretch of 17 as an interim measure (kind of like how they did with Highway 69) until the four-laning reaches there.
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Passing lanes need to be at least a KM long, IIRC.
With that in mind, it seems possible to add one set EB between 41 and Whitewater Road, where there are at least 5 KM between the 2 traffic lights. (This is assuming no operational issues at JCT Saw Mills Road.)
West of 41, it becomes tricky. From there to the bridge over Indian River, it’s 1.4 KM. WB Passing lane plus lane merge is 1 KM + 300 m = 1.3 KM, so while it’s doable, it’s cutting very close to the bridge. (I’m assuming that MTO isn’t going to modify the bridge to continue that passing lane.)
From the bridge over Indian River to B-Line Road, it’s 2 KM so a set of EB passing lane is probably doable.
Hmm… now that I think about it, passing lanes may be doable as long as the distance between 2 traffic lights (or 2 important intersections) exceeds 2.1 KM. Anecdotally, the end of the WB passing lane is 800 m away from the traffic light at Forest Lea Road: that’s how I’ve got the minimal distance 1 KM passing lane + 300 m merge + 800 m distance to traffic lights = 2.1 KM.
Maybe I need to check the geometric design guideline on passing lanes for the precise numbers after this (if I have time)…