Not mentioning all the close-calls, over the years, that didn't result in contact, or wreck.
I bought into the upper Redhill Valley area March 2007, knowing the Parkway was opening up.. i literally overlook the Greenhill interchange. 99% of the KM on my vehicle is using the RHP/QEW/403 commute route.
The Redhill Valley Expressway, almost took me out, March 2018, on the Northbound on-ramp. Accelerating onto the on-ramp with an empty RWD passenger van, i first lost rear-end traction, and with brakes applied, total traction control, it then swapped ends on the end of the on ramp, and i entered the highway going backwards, cutting perpendicular across traffic. I stopped inches short of the ARMCO barrier, and the now black-splotched bridge abutment for the CP bridge.
By some miracle, i cut between traffic in both lanes, going backwards, and didn't kill myself or anyone else, in the process. Only damage sustained was my confidence, and a half-deck of smokes road-side, after i got out of the live-lanes.
I discounted it at the time to new pavement with possible frost on it, RWD van, and pure dumb luck (both good and bad).
In the intervening years - my conclusion has changed on that last point - i've heard far too many sirens, and major accident scenes within walkable range, since.
Unfortunately, in addition to all the victims, the Hamilton taxpayer will also be paying for the City of Hamilton's negligence (if not outright criminal suppression) in addressing a known issue, as well as cost of Legal Inquiry, Civil Litigation (lawsuits), and other attendant Legal costs.
I'm sure i'm going to enjoy the 6 weeks of traffic chaos, following closure May 21st, for remediation..
Quote:
Originally Posted by thistleclub
Red Hill Valley Parkway class-action lawsuit filed against City of Hamilton
(Hamilton Spectator, Nicole O'Reilly, May 9 2019)
A class-action lawsuit that seeks more than $250 million in damages against the City of Hamilton has been filed on behalf of victims who crashed on the Red Hill Valley Parkway.
The lawsuit alleges negligent design, construction and maintenance of the Red Hill Valley Parkway, according to the statement of claim served to the city Thursday.
The class action is on behalf of victims and their families who have crashed on the parkway. According to the statement of claim, close to 2,000 vehicles have lost control on the parkway since it opened in 2007.
Representative plaintiffs include Corinne Klassen, a 54-year-old mother of three from London who survived a single-vehicle crash on the parkway in October 2016, and the family of Michael Sholer, who died in a crash in January 2017.
None of the claims have been proven in court.
Lawyers from Grosso Hooper and Scarfone Hawkins are seek damages because of a hidden 2013 report that found overall lower friction on the roadway.
That report remained secret until it was discovered by new management last year and revealed publicly in February.
The report had called for further investigation and possible remedial action that never happened.
During the time that the report remained buried, there were more than 200 serious collisions — including four fatal crashes — on the parkway.
Read it in full here.
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