Ontario Highways

[sonysnob]

Pre-dawn view of Highway 11/17 at the Ouimet Canyon rail underpass between Thunder Bay and Nipigon taken some 19 hours ago:


http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_11_images/11_cl_DSC05275_Jul23_24x16.jpg

[Loco101]

Wow, great photo! They have really moved along nicely with the twinning. I was there two years ago and it looked as though it would take much longer until it would be completed.

[swimmer_spe]

While it is annoying that it will not be freeway standards, 4 lanes will be better than 2. Any idea of opening date?

[Innsertnamehere]

It has an AADT of what, like 4,000 at most? Full grade separation is really total overkill.

The frustrating part is them keeping the speed limit at 90 after completion - it should at least increase to 100.

[Dengler Avenue]

Originally Posted by sonysnob

Pre-dawn view of Highway 11/17 at the Ouimet Canyon rail underpass between Thunder Bay and Nipigon taken some 19 hours ago:


http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_11_images/11_cl_DSC05275_Jul23_24x16.jpg

Oh wow, that is quite the rock fill for both roadways.
Ps: Now that I think about it, the 2 cross roads are a bit close if they can be captured in the same photo at this scale.

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

It has an AADT of what, like 4,000 at most? Full grade separation is really total overkill.

The frustrating part is them keeping the speed limit at 90 after completion - it should at least increase to 100.

I wonder whether it’s better to bump it to 100 kph if and when all 110 KM between T Bay and Nipigon is done.
Hopefully it means that we can focus on TCH around Kenora after this.

[Horus]

Originally Posted by sonysnob

Pre-dawn view of Highway 11/17 at the Ouimet Canyon rail underpass between Thunder Bay and Nipigon taken some 19 hours ago:


http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_11_images/11_cl_DSC05275_Jul23_24x16.jpg

Not familiar with that area at all, so I know nothing about those cross roads, but should there not be a set of acceleration lanes for vehicles entering the highway? They have deceleration/turning lanes to exit, but none for entering?

I guess traffic volumes will be generally low enough that it won't matter?
Just wondering

[haljackey]

Great photo!

Originally Posted by Horus

Not familiar with that area at all, so I know nothing about those cross roads, but should there not be a set of acceleration lanes for vehicles entering the highway? They have deceleration/turning lanes to exit, but none for entering?

My guess is you need distance to slow at a high speed, but if you're entering the highway it's assumed it is cleared for a considerable distance so you have a lot of time to accelerate. Leaving there may be someone riding your ass.

And a beautiful stretch like this should be 110 for sure. Bump most of the 400 series / full freeways to 120, make quality divided highways like this 110, and the good quality undivideds without a lot of fronting properties 100.

[swimmer_spe]

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

It has an AADT of what, like 4,000 at most? Full grade separation is really total overkill.

The frustrating part is them keeping the speed limit at 90 after completion - it should at least increase to 100.

I agree on speed change. I know that it likely does not warrant it by numbers, but that does not mean I cannot want something better.

[Dengler Avenue]

Originally Posted by swimmer_spe

I agree on speed change. I know that it likely does not warrant it by numbers, but that does not mean I cannot want something better.

You people worry too much.
When MTO builds something like this, especially for TCH, grade separation is always future-proofed, unlike the Prairies where it seems more like an afterthought.

For example, for Shabaqua 4 lanes, MTO’s plan shows approved intersections, but those can be closed or converted to interchange whenever warranted. In fact, the zoning map from Oliver Paypoonge shows the interchange locations.

[swimmer_spe]

Originally Posted by Dengler Avenue

You people worry too much.
When MTO builds something like this, especially for TCH, grade separation is always future-proofed, unlike the Prairies where it seems more like an afterthought.

For example, for Shabaqua 4 lanes, MTO’s plan shows approved intersections, but those can be closed or converted to interchange whenever warranted. In fact, the zoning map from Oliver Paypoonge shows the interchange locations.

Can you give examples of that?

[Dengler Avenue]

Originally Posted by swimmer_spe

Can you give examples of that?

TCH through Manitoba: Are there plans to grade-separate that traffic-light-controlled intersection at Elie (MB-248)??
Here’s a killer one: What about that light at Deacon’s Corners (MB-207)? All M.I.T. did was improving that intersection, nothing more.
As such, any plan to grade-separate them will count as afterthought.

In the case of MTO, during the planning stage of the 4 lanes of TCH, it’s at least understood that intersections will be closed or grade-separated if volume gets too high. Traffic lights are never an option (once 4 laned).

Ps: I should have just said the last line. So much for concision.

[swimmer_spe]

Originally Posted by Dengler Avenue

TCH through Manitoba: Are there plans to grade-separate that traffic-light-controlled intersection at Elie (MB-248)??
Here’s a killer one: What about that light at Deacon’s Corners (MB-207)? All M.I.T. did was improving that intersection, nothing more.

I'll see your MB 207 intersection, and raise you Highway 406...

[sonysnob]

Originally Posted by Dengler Avenue

Oh wow, that is quite the rock fill for both roadways.
Ps: Now that I think about it, the 2 cross roads are a bit close if they can be captured in the same photo at this scale.

I wonder whether it’s better to bump it to 100 kph if and when all 110 KM between T Bay and Nipigon is done.
Hopefully it means that we can focus on TCH around Kenora after this.

In between the two crossroads is the CPR overhead. That's why the highway is on such an elevated fill.

The former alignment of Highway 11/17 crossed the CPR about 50m west of the new highway. The old bridge was pretty deteriorated and was removed as part of the current construction contract. That's likely why there are two intersecting roads so close together. The local road network doesn't cross the railway at-grade.

[Mulder]

Originally Posted by haljackey

Great photo!

My guess is you need distance to slow at a high speed, but if you're entering the highway it's assumed it is cleared for a considerable distance so you have a lot of time to accelerate. Leaving there may be someone riding your ass.

It's in the TAC Manual. It's called Decision Sight Distance. You can read a little about it in the 2011 revision

https://www.tac-atc.ca/sites/tac-atc.ca/files/site/2011-gdg-revisions.pdf

Section 1.2.5.4 (Page 12).

Basically, the distance where both drivers (one entering the highway, and one already on the highway) could take make a decision and take action (lane change, breaking/slowing down, etc)

This is much much longer than Stopping sight distance.

[sonysnob]

LRT construction adjacent to the 417 adjacent to the Pinecrest Road interchange in western Ottawa:


http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_410-427_images/417_DJI_0091_24x18.jpg

[Dengler Avenue]

Will there be enough room for 8 lanes on the 417 without redoing that overpass?

[sonysnob]

^ Yes, it looks like the acceleration lane from the loop ramp is going to need to be pretty short, but they will be able to fit 8 lanes beneath the overpass.

[ericmacm]

Heard something interesting through the grapevine this week. There is potentially a Phase 3 of HWY 3 twinning in Essex County in the works, possibly even out as far as HWY 34 along the HWY 33 segment. That area is definitely busy enough to justify it (way busier now than when I worked in Leamington 6 years ago) and it makes sense to just keep continuing the work.

Take it with a grain of salt in the meantime.

[sonysnob]

Originally Posted by ericmacm

Heard something interesting through the grapevine this week. There is potentially a Phase 3 of HWY 3 twinning in Essex County in the works, possibly even out as far as HWY 34 along the HWY 33 segment. That area is definitely busy enough to justify it (way busier now than when I worked in Leamington 6 years ago) and it makes sense to just keep continuing the work.

Take it with a grain of salt in the meantime.

Hwy 3 is going to be twinned easterly from Essex to the Essex Road 34 intersection at Ruthglen.

Construction should start next summer:
https://www.infrastructureontario.ca/en/...rded-for-the-highway-3-widening-project/

[ericmacm]

Originally Posted by sonysnob

Hwy 3 is going to be twinned easterly from Essex to the Essex Road 34 intersection at Ruthglen.

Construction should start next summer:
https://www.infrastructureontario.ca/en/...rded-for-the-highway-3-widening-project/

That is Phase 2, what I am talking about is east of this, to the intersection of HWY 33 and 34 east of Leamington.