[haljackey]

I was looking throughout this site and noticed there wasn't a thread for this!

Let me start with a few pics of highways in London, my hometown.

Highway 401 (freeway)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5103/5572922455_df10317d9e_b.jpg

Highway 402 (freeway)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5053/5573501750_b51510a3d0_b.jpg

Highbury Avenue (short grade-separated expressway)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5261/5573503142_a278968996_b.jpg

Veterans Memorial Parkway/VMP (at-grade expressway)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3488/3712428637_d119f71db4_b.jpg

All photos by me except the last one which was taken by Adam Colvin.

Despite all the highways in the area, London is the largest city in North America that does not have a freeway to serve 'local' traffic. The Veterans Memorial Parkway is planned to be upgraded to a freeway at some point, however it won't be for another 20-30 years.

[LeftCoaster]

Despite all the highways in the area, London is the largest city in North America that does not have a freeway to serve 'local' traffic.

I wasn't aware London was larger than Vancouver, what a growth spurt! ;)

[jmt18325]

I always thought that Winnipeg was larger than London too (and no, the Disreali doesn't count).

[Spocket]

Despite all the highways in the area, London is the largest city in North America that does not have a freeway to serve 'local' traffic.
Winnipeg's still considerably larger than London .

Vancouver most definitely has a major freeway running through it so I'm not sure where that comment comes from .

[caltrane74]

Wow, I didn't know all you guys didn't have highways in your cities. - Even Hamilton, which is about the same size as Winnipeg, has 4 (major )highways running through it and around it. - Very scenic highways I might add as well. - The LINC, and Red Creek are very nice.

[freeweed]

Wow, I didn't know all you guys didn't have highways in your cities. - Even Hamilton, which is about the same size as Winnipeg, has 4 (major )highways running through it and around it. - Very scenic highways I might add as well. - The LINC, and Red Creek are very nice.

One thing I learned the first time I drove through southern Ontario - that region has far, far better freeways in the cities than the rest of the country. I'll never forget my first time in K-W, marveling at what seemed like insane freeways for a city of 3-400,000 (at the time). Compared to places like Winnipeg, Calgary or Edmonton, which were more than twice the size yet had nothing on that level.

I realized as I got older than things were a bit more complicated, but at the time it sure reinforced my western stereotypes of "Ottawa spends all the money in S.Ontario and ignores the west". :haha: Seriously - to this day Winnipeg has nothing even remotely comparable, and Edmonton/Calgary are just getting to that point over the last 5 years or so (Deerfoot had traffic lights on it as recently as 6 years ago).

Hamilton at least made sense given its proximity to Toronto etc, and the fact that it's the corridor to the US and Niagara. But K-W just seems so "out of the way" to have a couple of major freeways servicing it. At least from a western perspective. It felt very American - every town over 10,000 people has a freeway in it if you stick to the Interstates.

[jigglysquishy]

I'm just going to pop in and say freeways are disgusting and a detriment to a city's urban fabric.

[drew]

^ exactly. I am not sure why NOT having freeways in a city would be considered a bad thing?

[Metro-One]

:previous:Yes, because highways like everything else in this world are a complete black and white issue.......

There is definitely a such thing as building too many highways and implementing them poorly into the urban fabric, but there is also a such thing as building necessary highways that benefit the urban area as a whole.

So please, the same way I hate it when people turn cycling threads into a black and white issue / debate, don't turn this thread into a black and white debate. :tup:

Sorry Haljackey, but i think these types of threads may only work on SSC...

[vid]

^ exactly. I am not sure why NOT having freeways in a city would be considered a bad thing?

Because without them, heavy truck traffic has to go through the city itself, and that is also detrimental to the urban fabric.

A city councillor here proposed banning trucks from Highway 102 to keep them out of a residential area, but that would funnel them through a village of 1,000 people 20 miles west, so now people are saying we should build a by-pass north of the city so that cross country trucks don't have to go near the urban area at all.

http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/1070/unledk.jpg

All of these have been proposed in some form for 30 years.

[bulliver]

Vancouver most definitely has a major freeway running through it so I'm not sure where that comment comes from .

Look at a map, it just cuts through a tiny corner of Vancouver. Besides the original contention was "that does not have a freeway to serve 'local' traffic". This tiny stretch of the TCH most certainly does not serve local Vancouver Traffic.

Anyway, here's some pictures of some highways I have taken over the last few years:

Highway 1 at Rogers Pass BC
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2629/3719523630_aca53ea3fa_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/badcomputer/3719523630/)

Highway 1 near Spuzzum BC
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2306/4512985000_c839074d6f_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/badcomputer/4512985000/)

Highway 1 at Hell's Gate BC
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2300/4512341253_e703c03388_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/badcomputer/4512341253/)

Highway 97 crossing the William R. Bennett Bridge at Kelowna BC
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4099/4896606489_4d5589b7cf_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/badcomputer/4896606489/)

Highway 7 near Harrison Mills BC
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2105/4512345439_b1e497100b_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/badcomputer/4512345439/)

Secondary Highway 866 near Boyne Lake AB
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3495/3933260244_b88f39c6bf_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/badcomputer/3933260244/)

Highway 63 near Ft McMurray AB
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3330/3658358075_3fcd05033d_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/badcomputer/3658358075/)

Highway 32 near Peers AB
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2575/3819839054_6a2aa7560f_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/badcomputer/3819839054/)

Highway 1 near Calgary AB
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2459/3718714453_cf0b454238_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/badcomputer/3718714453/)

[isaidso]

Because without them, heavy truck traffic has to go through the city itself, and that is also detrimental to the urban fabric.

A city councillor here proposed banning trucks from Highway 102 to keep them out of a residential area, but that would funnel them through a village of 1,000 people 20 miles west, so now people are saying we should build a by-pass north of the city so that cross country trucks don't have to go near the urban area at all.

All of these have been proposed in some form for 30 years.

Generally, it's better to have truck traffic skirt the periphery of a city. Lots of traffic is just passing through, and if it isn't, truck warehouses aren't usually located downtown anyway. Trucks go to their warehouse, and then smaller vehicles usually redistribute goods to points within the city.

That by-pass north of Thunder Bay looks like a good idea. Cross country traffic doesn't need to detour into Thunder Bay, Thunder Bay is spared congestion, and the city is still linked to the Trans-Canada Highway.

[mylesmalley]

Too lazy to post a screenshot...
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Moncton,+New+Brunswick,+Canada&aq=0&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=34.176059,89.472656&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Moncton,+Westmorland+County,+New+Brunswick,+Canada&ll=46.107993,-64.723549&spn=0.116871,0.349503&z=12

For a city of ~135,000, Moncton has a fairly impressive highway network. It also has the interesting distinction of having a divided freeway that terminates at a traffic circle at both ends, as well as several at-grade railroad/freeway crossings. For the most part, the traffic in the city is fairly functional, but it does have issues. For starters, our airport is only accessible from one side of a highway, and travelers need to find an alternate route or go around a cloverleaf to get back. Hopefully that'll change though. As well, there are a couple of long stretches with no exits/on-ramps, meaning a lot of traffic stays on surface streets that could flow a lot more efficiently with proper highway access.

[Elmira Guy]

But K-W just seems so "out of the way" to have a couple of major freeways servicing it. At least from a western perspective. It felt very American - every town over 10,000 people has a freeway in it if you stick to the Interstates.

Kitchener-Waterloo only has one "freeway" (Conestoga Parkway) which services the city on a west-to-east at the south end of Kitchener, and south-to-north along the east side of Kitchener and Waterloo.

The 401 is in close proximity (running west-to-east essentially dividing Kitchener and Cambridge. While the 401 can be used to go from certain parts of Kitchener to certain areas of Cambridge, it is not a freeway which is dedicated to the area, other than to connect it with the other major cities in the corridor.

Another point. I don't know how much time you've spent in K-W, but in case it hasn't been much, the street layout in this city/cities is beyond bizarre! Two of the main streets which run parallel to one another almost throughout both cities, cross one another TWICE in Waterloo, and then marge without notice in Kitchener. :)

While I don't drive, it is undeniable that the "Expressway" (as it is locally called) enabled the region to become much more prosperous. Hopefully we can get the LRT happening, and improve the area even more.

[Andy6]

Well, there is a vast amount of heavy industry in Southern Ontario, notably an auto industry that requires reliable, just-in-time delivery of parts from numerous suppliers located (or at least, that were located) in dozens of towns and cities in the province.

[Duke-Of-Waterloo]

While I don't drive, it is undeniable that the "Expressway" (as it is locally called) enabled the region to become much more prosperous. Hopefully we can get the LRT happening, and improve the area even more.

+1 :tup: ....

[Blitz]

Winnipeg at least has a ring road....London doesn't even have that. Traffic in London is horrendous. Kitchener and Windsor have crosstown expressways and the traffic flow in those cities is so much better despite all being around the same size.

[youngregina]

Winnipeg at least has a ring road....London doesn't even have that. Traffic in London is horrendous. Kitchener and Windsor have crosstown expressways and the traffic flow in those cities is so much better despite all being around the same size.

However, Winnipegs is not really meant for local traffic. It's completely a bypass road. Or at least that is what I got from looking at the maps and driving through. I can't imagine it being used for local traffic until the city fills in the entire circle... which will be so so so many years from now. Winnipeg doesn't have any major expressways serving the local traffic in and out and around communities within. I am actually impressed with Regina's ring road. Albeit not the best designed road out there, it does it's job fantastically. Without it, our city would be in constant gridlock. That, combined with the Lewvan expressway; makes for a good half assed circle that works phenomenally for our little town.

[The_Architect]

Kitchener-Waterloo only has one "freeway" (Conestoga Parkway) which services the city on a west-to-east at the south end of Kitchener, and south-to-north along the east side of Kitchener and Waterloo.

The 401 is in close proximity (running west-to-east essentially dividing Kitchener and Cambridge. While the 401 can be used to go from certain parts of Kitchener to certain areas of Cambridge, it is not a freeway which is dedicated to the area, other than to connect it with the other major cities in the corridor.

Another point. I don't know how much time you've spent in K-W, but in case it hasn't been much, the street layout in this city/cities is beyond bizarre! Two of the main streets which run parallel to one another almost throughout both cities, cross one another TWICE in Waterloo, and then marge without notice in Kitchener. :)

While I don't drive, it is undeniable that the "Expressway" (as it is locally called) enabled the region to become much more prosperous. Hopefully we can get the LRT happening, and improve the area even more.

Oh Weber St.. Sooooo confusing.

Not to mention the main street (King) has a King St N, King St S, King St E and King St W. The road does not go in a circle.

Planning in KW is so odd in the sense that it's a grid in both Kitchener and Waterloo, but one grid is the typical N-S, E-W grid, and then move into the other municipality and it looks like an 'X'..

Also, the Conestoga Parkway is one (I know it as 85), but wouldn't you also include the 8 as an expressway?

[Spocket]

Look at a map, it just cuts through a tiny corner of Vancouver. Besides the original contention was "that does not have a freeway to serve 'local' traffic". This tiny stretch of the TCH most certainly does not serve local Vancouver Traffic.
What are you talking about ? Seriously , do you live in some alternate Vancouver or something ? How can you look at a map and NOT notice the freeway running through the city ?
If a "tiny corner" equals about a third of the Vancouver metropolitan area and pretty much everybody in the lower mainland then I think you need to look at a dictionary . Of course it serves local traffic ... who else would it serve ? You can't exactly argue that people are just passing through Vancouver on their drive to ... the Pacific ocean ? It doesn't go around the city , it goes through it and while it doesn't go directly into the CBD it gets reasonably close .

[LeftCoaster]

What are you talking about ? Seriously , do you live in some alternate Vancouver or something ? How can you look at a map and NOT notice the freeway running through the city ?
If a "tiny corner" equals about half of the Vancouver metropolitan area then I think you need to look at a dictionary .

Burnaby is not Vancouver. Surrey Is not Vancouver. Coquitlam is not Vancouver.

He doesnt live in an alternate Vancouver, he lives in VANCOUVER. No one ever said anything about Metro Vancouver. The City of Vancouver has over 600,000 people making it larger than London and there is no freeway serving the City of Vancouver, Highway 1 touches the border then turns north.

All traffic in the City of Vancouver is surface streets.

[Spocket]

Burnaby is not Vancouver. Surrey Is not Vancouver. Coquitlam is not Vancouver.

He doesnt live in an alternate Vancouver, he lives in VANCOUVER. No one ever said anything about Metro Vancouver. The City of Vancouver has over 600,000 people making it larger than London and there is no freeway serving the City of Vancouver, Highway 1 touches the border then turns north.

All traffic in the City of Vancouver is surface streets.
Whatever . I'm pretty sure that people who live the area don't stop driving their cars when they reach Burnaby just so that they won't be counted as Burnaby traffic . If we're going to quibble then okay , let's quibble . Firstly , Vancouver has a freeway . Secondly , simply by virtue of it being in the city proper and having access ramps within said jurisdiction it serves local traffic . Thirdly , Granville , Cambie , and the Dunsmuir/Georgia viaducts are also freeways by definition so your contention that all Vancouver traffic is surface is flat-out wrong . Or perhaps now you'd like to debate the definition of a freeway ? Perhaps instead you'd prefer to argue that a freeway can only be used by people who live in a specific jurisdiction ?

If , on the other hand , you don't want to argue the minutiae then just admit that Vancouver has freeways since , after all , it does whether you count only the city proper or the GVRD . Of course , again , if you want to argue that Vancouver has no freeways (even though it does) on false technicalities about "local traffic" then the same applies to London which also has a freeway serving local traffic .

[harls]

Some highway photos I've taken

Autoroute 5 near Wakefield, Quebec

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5264/5608370146_4a0045e0dc_b.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5303/5608371492_0e15000eed_b.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5266/5608373298_3d83ea3048_z.jpg

A5 at Chelsea, Qc with Ottawa in the background

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5021/5607796141_6ab9eb6564_b.jpg

Some 417 westbound pics in Ottawa

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3269/3052348745_e14aaa857f_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2788/4488937661_6d09a6ac15_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2718/4489583854_62f5ab1334_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4015/4489585110_ef31e2c95f_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2758/4489586358_19d3017ee9_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4024/4489587692_ba24c0aa21_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2729/4489588934_e380db599d_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2734/4489590258_5617a416d3_b.jpg

and some others..

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4102/4939151952_e5563dfd6b_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4099/4939170486_f3951d61af_b.jpg

Quebec City

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3634/3382300876_77c20a5d39_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3608/3382301592_d4862ba99b_b.jpg

5-50 split in Gatineau.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3220/3092818272_cdd99eab36_b.jpg

[SteelTown]

Wow, I didn't know all you guys didn't have highways in your cities. - Even Hamilton, which is about the same size as Winnipeg, has 4 (major )highways running through it and around it. - Very scenic highways I might add as well. - The LINC, and Red Creek are very nice.

Hamilton was born because of it's geographical location, hub city. With that came the highways, trains, airport, harbourfront ports, etc.

With the completion of the Red Hill Hamilton now has a ring road, QEW, Red Hill, Linc and 403.

[Biff]

I know I'm in the minority here, and they kill neighborhoods, they are eyesores, cars are bad, blah, blah blah.....but i happen to like freeways. I like visiting cities that have them, i love cars, i love driving and i think they are helpful at moving traffic around (except when there is gridlock).

My perception is that it gives a area a big city feel. I know that that doesn't define a city but it is just a perception.

.....maybe it is just because my city (Winnipeg) doesn't have any.

Flame away!

[LeftCoaster]

Whatever . I'm pretty sure that people who live the area don't stop driving their cars when they reach Burnaby just so that they won't be counted as Burnaby traffic . If we're going to quibble then okay , let's quibble . Firstly , Vancouver has a freeway . Secondly , simply by virtue of it being in the city proper and having access ramps within said jurisdiction it serves local traffic . Thirdly , Granville , Cambie , and the Dunsmuir/Georgia viaducts are also freeways by definition so your contention that all Vancouver traffic is surface is flat-out wrong . Or perhaps now you'd like to debate the definition of a freeway ? Perhaps instead you'd prefer to argue that a freeway can only be used by people who live in a specific jurisdiction ?

If , on the other hand , you don't want to argue the minutiae then just admit that Vancouver has freeways since , after all , it does whether you count only the city proper or the GVRD . Of course , again , if you want to argue that Vancouver has no freeways (even though it does) on false technicalities about "local traffic" then the same applies to London which also has a freeway serving local traffic .

I don't want to argue and quibble, but it appears quite clearly that you do.

All I said was that the city of Vancouver has no highway serving local traffic, I still think thats true and if you dont that's just fine by me. :tup:

[agrant]

What does that even mean, "serving local traffic"? If anyone wants to know how it is, just look at a road map to see the layout of the city. A good portion of Vancouverites will obviously connect to the highway through the McGill and 1st Ave on-ramps. So really, it does partially serve Vancouver City in that respect. But it is not in the same manner as say the I-5 in Seattle, or the 101 and Santa Ana running right beside the downtown district.

[Dmajackson]

Some photos I've taken in Greater Halifax over the last couple of years;

Highway 101 near Margeson Drive interchange (Middle Sackville);

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5102/5608335251_f12eceae10_z.jpg

Highway 102 at Larry Uteck interchange (Bedford/Halifax);

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5221/5608332069_79769fbe60_z.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5101/5608333585_c45a660a70_z.jpg

Highway 111 near Mic Mac Parclo (widest highway in Atlantic Canada at 12 lanes);

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5024/5608330611_dbd9576482_z.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5148/5608911440_c7bc08ccac_z.jpg

Highway 118 at Dartmouth Crossing (only C/E system in Atlantic Canada);

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5226/5608325815_6aab22324f_z.jpg

[caltrane74]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3171/2317162286_7f2f931315_b.jpg
401 and Allen Road Toronto - News 46 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/news46/)

[Acajack]

Some 417 westbound pics in Ottawa

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2758/4489586358_19d3017ee9_b.jpg



OK, people, this picture shows the signage at the junction/exit you have to take when going from Ottawa, Canada's capital and second-largest city in Ontario, to the biggest city in Canada and Ontario's provincial capital.

Anybody notice that there is a particular word that is conspicuous by its absence on this sign?

[vid]

Considering that that interchange is in the middle of the city I don't really see a need for a sign saying where Toronto is located. You don't see Winnipeg or Kenora on directional signs here at all (example 1 (http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=48.407098,-89.286876&spn=0.013789,0.032659&z=15&layer=c&cbll=48.406915,-89.286962&panoid=0lt72MrCUIveTwmfCgA_zg&cbp=12,233.63,,1,-1.01), 2 (http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=48.383046,-89.300676&spn=0.013795,0.032659&z=15&layer=c&cbll=48.382713,-89.300671&panoid=ohLcsm7s0EgSXfdADJ2Xhw&cbp=12,217.46,,0,0.14)), and Duluth doesn't appear until you get near the airport (http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=48.378426,-89.30059&spn=0.013796,0.032659&z=15&layer=c&cbll=48.378761,-89.300581&panoid=rMMCmJcUdf_hgBfaS-ua2A&cbp=12,195.82,,1,0.26).

The lack of signs pointing to Winnipeg play a funny trick on drug smugglers from Quebec: They miss all three chances to turn to Winnipeg and don't realize that they're about the hit the US border until they see the sign about 200m away from customs. Police then see them turn around and bust them. Happens a couple times a year, though lately most drug busts have been happening up in Nipigon.

[Ayreonaut]

That's one thing that's definitely different in the US. There are signs for New York all over a quarter of the country.

[Boris2k7]

Some Alberta Highways...

The QE2 (Queen Elizabeth II) that runs between Calgary and Edmonton

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3105/2769304851_006dd1fab8.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/glaaron/2769304851/)
Leg 3 - Edmonton to Calgary (http://www.flickr.com/photos/glaaron/2769304851/) by Forest Edge (http://www.flickr.com/people/glaaron/), on Flickr


Deerfoot Trail, the only true grade-separated freeway in Calgary

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3489/3734957390_50b0c07406.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuckinthemetal/3734957390/)
Deerfoot Traffic On A Rainy Day (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuckinthemetal/3734957390/) by LostMyHeadache: Absolutely Free * (http://www.flickr.com/people/stuckinthemetal/), on Flickr


Glenmore Trail, an expressway that is one of Calgary's major East-West connectors

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1414/3267766590_65a967c87c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/30638967@N03/3267766590/)
Glenmore/Elbow DSC_0378 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/30638967@N03/3267766590/) by Ronaldok (http://www.flickr.com/people/30638967@N03/), on Flickr


16th Avenue North, another expressway/major road that is an East-West route... this is the TransCanada Highway btw

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3235/2906795212_d40d33f204.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevincappis/2906795212/)
Image-10-02-08 029 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevincappis/2906795212/) by Surrealplaces (http://www.flickr.com/people/kevincappis/), on Flickr


Highway 22 (a.k.a. the Cowboy Trail) that ambles through the foothills -- one of the most scenic highways in Alberta

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4029/4717529737_f1203ab94e.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevincappis/4717529737/)
Cowboy Trail (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevincappis/4717529737/) by Surrealplaces (http://www.flickr.com/people/kevincappis/), on Flickr


Highway 3 which runs along the southern parts of the province -- this particular shot is in the Crowsnest Pass

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2464/3810937884_bc13a668eb.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pageworld/3810937884/)
0906_0480 Rockies foothills, Alberta (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pageworld/3810937884/) by wild prairie man (http://www.flickr.com/people/pageworld/), on Flickr

[The_Architect]

The 401 at its widest going through Toronto.

http://www.goatoronto.com/images/stories/stock/communications/401%20canada2.jpg

[whiteford]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3171/2317162286_7f2f931315_b.jpg
401 and Allen Road Toronto - News 46 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/news46/)

now thats the kind of interchange i love.:cheers:

[whiteford]

The 401 at its widest going through Toronto.

http://www.goatoronto.com/images/stories/stock/communications/401%20canada2.jpg

oh my God!!!:yes:

[agrant]

:previous: Looks like they could add another dozen more lanes.

[raggedy13]

I would say that the highway doesn't serve local traffic in Vancouver in that someone starting their journey in Vancouver would not take the highway to get to another point within Vancouver. You technically could since there is more than one exit but there would be no reason to use it in this way for 99.9% of the population.

[caltrane74]

Whitford, you need to see a picture of the basketweave. I looked around for a photo and couldn't find one. That is a very amazing highway feature.

Is the 401 still the busiest highway in North America, or has the Santa Monica Freeway in Los Angeles regained its title from the T Dot?

Is there any other Canadian highway, that is as busy as the 401? In Montral perhaps?

[vid]

The 401 is basically the only east-west corridor in Toronto, which is why it is so busy. Montreal on the other hand has more freeways spread out more evenly, and it isn't pushed up against a lake, so I don't think they have any roads that are as busy as the 401. Traffic going through Montreal has more options than traffic going through the GTA.

[SpikePhanta]

I would say that the highway doesn't serve local traffic in Vancouver in that someone starting their journey in Vancouver would not take the highway to get to another point within Vancouver. You technically could since there is more than one exit but there would be no reason to use it in this way for 99.9% of the population.

Yeah I doubt anyone would use highway 1 to get around vancouver proper :haha:


Also there is only 4 km of highway in Vancouver proper boundaries, I would hardly say that it could serve local traffic properly

[vid]

I hope that from now on, all of our metro statistics for Vancouver include Vancouver proper, so as not to suggest to people in Vancouver that all those cities around it are part of it, or something.

God forbid Vancouver is associated with the trashy likes of Surrey! :eek:

[SpikePhanta]

God Forbid? 42.2% of Metro Van's population follow no faith. :P

Also the original thing was "Despite all the highways in the area, London is the largest city in North America that does not have a freeway to serve 'local' traffic."

[haljackey]

Gotta say there's some great pics here!



Also the original thing was "Despite all the highways in the area, London is the largest city in North America that does not have a freeway to serve 'local' traffic."

Correct. I guess I should have been clearer. While Winnipeg and Vancouver are comparable in this sense, there are a few freeway segments/stubs in these cities that are used by residents in the city/metro. In London's case, they're used for long distance traffic, bypassing the area altogether.

Whitford, you need to see a picture of the basketweave. I looked around for a photo and couldn't find one. That is a very amazing highway feature.

Here's a pic of one of the basketweaves on Highway 401:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6d/401_Basketweave_Crop.jpg/1280px-401_Basketweave_Crop.jpg

(From the Wikipedia Basketweave article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Basketweave)

Is the 401 still the busiest highway in North America, or has the Santa Monica Freeway in Los Angeles regained its title from the T Dot?

Is there any other Canadian highway, that is as busy as the 401? In Montral perhaps?

Highway 401 is by far the busiest highway in North America, having volumes over 435,000 cars per day in some sections of Toronto. No highway in the US tops 400k. It may very well be the busiest highway in the world but there's no official stat to back this up.

Canada's second busiest highway is Highway 427 which sees a over 340,000 cars per day in some sections of Toronto.

[vid]

Well Winnipeg has no freeway at all, so, you know, like, whatever.

[freeweed]

Well Winnipeg has no freeway at all, so, you know, like, whatever.

The Disraeli is called a freeway. And signs do not lie, ever.

[dsim249]

The Disraeli is called a freeway. And signs do not lie, ever.

Actually... Google maps never lies. And I don't see any of that bold yellowish/orange in Winnipeg!
(Why is that? Especially since Disraeli is labeled as freeway. Even Saskatoon and Regina have the bold yellow, indicating our modest 'freeways'.)

[patboy]

The island of Montreal have only one east-west corridor (Highway 40). We have the 20-720 axe but it is not totally completed in the east and that will probably never happen ...

The highway 40, called ''The Met'' Is very busy. As a truck driver in the city I can tell you that the traffic on the highway is very slow from 7am to 7pm. It is the busiest highway in Québec with around of 200 000 vehicles moving at the kilometer 67 (Between ''the two 15'')

Here a good picture took from the roof of a building close to St-Michel in eastern direction.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4073/4933794322_89ab1615be_b.jpg

Source : Le calmar on Flickr


Kilometer 67, picture from Wikipedia

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/85/Autoroute_40_et_Chemin_de_la_c%C3%B4te_de_liesse.JPG

[caltrane74]

Wow... That picture of the basketweave is very impressive, and perhaps the defining image of the 401 in the GTA region. Didn't know it even had its own Wikipedia page. Now that is saying something.

Also I didnt know the 427 was the second busist highway in Canada, had always thought it was the autoroute in Montreal. And the volumes here are impressive. The size of these highways here is a direct result of the productive capacity of the Toronto centred Auto Industry, which relies on a "just in time" delivery system.

[Acajack]

Considering that that interchange is in the middle of the city I don't really see a need for a sign saying where Toronto is located. You don't see Winnipeg or Kenora on directional signs here at all (example 1 (http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=48.407098,-89.286876&spn=0.013789,0.032659&z=15&layer=c&cbll=48.406915,-89.286962&panoid=0lt72MrCUIveTwmfCgA_zg&cbp=12,233.63,,1,-1.01), 2 (http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=48.383046,-89.300676&spn=0.013795,0.032659&z=15&layer=c&cbll=48.382713,-89.300671&panoid=ohLcsm7s0EgSXfdADJ2Xhw&cbp=12,217.46,,0,0.14)), and Duluth doesn't appear until you get near the airport (http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=48.378426,-89.30059&spn=0.013796,0.032659&z=15&layer=c&cbll=48.378761,-89.300581&panoid=rMMCmJcUdf_hgBfaS-ua2A&cbp=12,195.82,,1,0.26).


Your examples from the Thunder Bay area only point to how brutal Ontario provincial highway signage really is.

For starters, Winnipeg is in another province and Ontario signage is totally Ontario-centric. As a general rule, Ontario only posts destination cities (control cities in roadgeek talk) that are in Ontario. Unless it is impossible to do so. For example, the 401 control cities eastbound are Kingston and Cornwall, and you only get Montreal east of Cornwall once picking an Ontario destination would mean your control city is a cornfield. The 417 east from Ottawa has Montreal, but this is because the entire highway in its Ontario portion runs through farmers' fields pretty much.

And this is when there is a destination city on the signs. The photo I quoted has no destination city at all. It just says "416 TO 401". Of course, any tourist from Germany, China or Alabama intuitively knows that the 401 is "Ontario's main street" and runs to Toronto, right?

Plus, once you get to the Prescott junction between the 416 and 401, 100 km south of Ottawa, the signs don't point to Toronto or Montreal either. They point to Cornwall (eastbound) and Kingston (westbound). I guess MTO expects everyone in Wagga Wagga, NSW and Minsk, Belarus to know that Toronto lies west of Prescott!

It is equally bad in Toronto, where unless I missed it there is not one single directional sign pointing to Montreal in the entire GTA. Well, I think there may be a lone distance sign that has Montreal on it in the Port Hope or Cobourg area just as you emerge from the contiguous urban sprawl.

Anyway, signs on major highways are supposed to be for people who don't know the environs and need to find their way.

[The_Architect]

The 401 is basically the only east-west corridor in Toronto, which is why it is so busy. Montreal on the other hand has more freeways spread out more evenly, and it isn't pushed up against a lake, so I don't think they have any roads that are as busy as the 401. Traffic going through Montreal has more options than traffic going through the GTA.

I'd count the QEW (Gardiner Expressway) and the 407 as E-W corridors as well, but I get your point. The 401 is the main public E-W corridor in Toronto.

And Caltrane, the 401 is still the busiest in the Western Hemisphere (not just NA) IIRC, Santa Monica freeway is still trailing.

[flar]

Cootes Drive, connecting Hamilton and Dundas, the first divided highway in Canada (c. 1936)
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k28/segaert/mac/00001.jpg

Hwy 403 (Chedoke Expressway) Hamilton:
http://www.metroperspectives.com/img/s3/v26/p425967233-5.jpg

Claremont Mountain Access Hamilton:
http://www.metroperspectives.com/img/s8/v11/p417251523-5.jpg

I wish I had a better view of Burlington Street's double decker highway section (Hamilton):
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k28/segaert/industrial/30.jpg

Red Hill Valley Parkway (Hamilton) under construction:
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k28/segaert/summerhammer/00003.jpg


Another view of the 401:
http://www.metroperspectives.com/img/s1/v19/p748361534-5.jpg


A cloverleaf interchange in Winnipeg (where it is said there are no highways):
http://www.metroperspectives.com/img/s3/v25/p686253332-5.jpg

[The_Architect]

Fun Fact: The partial cloverleaf interchange (which is on most Ontario highways, I don't know about the rest of Canada), was first developed by MTO (Ontario Ministry of Transportation) and is becoming more popular than full cloverleaf interchanges. :tup:

http://images-mediawiki-sites.thefullwiki.org/00/2/2/6/75290963457834979.jpg

[caltrane74]

This is the primary interchange design type in North America and also becoming moreso in Europe.

Way to go Ontario!

[Joshy]

A cloverleaf interchange in Winnipeg (where it is said there are no freeways)

Corrected for accuracy.

[caltrane74]

but i thought that's what you guys were saying?

There are no "highways" in Winnipeg, now it's no Freeways..? I don't get it, no one expects Winnipeg to have LA style Freeways, hell most of Canada doesn't even have that type of over-engineered and designed Freeway transport type and would not ever expect something so extensive to be built in cities here.

[Joshy]

but i thought that's what you guys were saying?

There are no "highways" in Winnipeg, now it's no Freeways..? I don't get it, no one expects Winnipeg to have LA style Freeways, hell most of Canada doesn't even have that type of over-engineered and designed Freeway transport type and would not ever expect something so extensive to be built in cities here.

Calm down, caltrane. You of all people should know the difference between highway and freeway. Of course there are highways in Winnipeg; there are highways in every province in this country. But freeways, I mean a true freeway in the sense? No.

[whiteford]

Whitford, you need to see a picture of the basketweave. I looked around for a photo and couldn't find one. That is a very amazing highway feature.

Is the 401 still the busiest highway in North America, or has the Santa Monica Freeway in Los Angeles regained its title from the T Dot?

Is there any other Canadian highway, that is as busy as the 401? In Montral perhaps?

I thought it is suppose to be the busiest in North America. Judging from that photo, I have no reason doubt those claims.

[Andy6]

Your examples from the Thunder Bay area only point to how brutal Ontario provincial highway signage really is.

For starters, Winnipeg is in another province and Ontario signage is totally Ontario-centric.

In NW Ontario, Ontario's government has always been reluctant to do anything that would direct economic activity into Manitoba. So Highway 17 from the border to Kenora has remained dangerously two-laned and at one point the government cancelled a plan to connect Red Lake to Manitoba PR 314 (even though this would be important for forest fire evacuations).

[Andy6]

Calm down, caltrane. You of all people should know the difference between highway and freeway. Of course there are highways in Winnipeg; there are highways in every province in this country. But freeways, I mean a true freeway in the sense? No.

An extensive freeway network was planned in the 1960s but little of it was built: just the fragment now called the Disraeli as well as (much later) some sections of what was supposed to be called the Suburban Beltway, which became Bishop Grandin Boulevard and Kenaston Boulevard as well as Chief Peguis Trail, none of which are grade-separated. The Perimeter Highway was probably the most notable multilane city bypass route built in the 60s in Canada, however, and is sort of half a freeway in spots, although falling short of Ontario or U.S. standards.

There is simply no need for freeways in Winnipeg. Traffic moves well around the city and the radial pattern, with some very broad arterial roads, feeds traffic into the core much more efficiently than Toronto's grid can.

[Mininari]

The Perimeter Highway was probably the most notable multilane city bypass route built in the 60s in Canada, however, and is sort of half a freeway in spots, although falling short of Ontario or U.S. standards.

There is simply no need for freeways in Winnipeg. Traffic moves well around the city and the radial pattern, with some very broad arterial roads, feeds traffic into the core much more efficiently than Toronto's grid can.

Yeah, its actually possible to make a left turn from the left-hand lane on the Perimeter highway to a DIRT ROAD. Imagine that. Travelling along a highway at the posted speed limit of 100km/hr (or slightly above), only suddenly to have the car in front of you flip on the blinker, STOP, and make a turn. Yep, what a "freeway" that is.

Otherwise, yeah there really isn't any need for a billion-dollar freeway network in Winnipeg. The commute times here are not that bad (except maybe for those who need to cross the Osborne Bridge for the next 18 months.. big restoration project going on there).

Watch for upgrades connected to the Centreport development though... they're already building Canada CentrePort Way (an expressway, not a freeway) and connecting it to the Perimeter Highway with an interchange.... in all likelihood, it will be extended westward to bypass Headingley within maybe a 10-year time frame?
A similar bypass is planned in the South around St. Norbert.

On the otherhand, the rest of the interchange at Highway 59 and the Perimeter is STILL not under construction.

[Acajack]

In NW Ontario, Ontario's government has always been reluctant to do anything that would direct economic activity into Manitoba. So Highway 17 from the border to Kenora has remained dangerously two-laned and at one point the government cancelled a plan to connect Red Lake to Manitoba PR 314 (even though this would be important for forest fire evacuations).

Is this serious or sarcastic?

Honest question...

[harls]

It is equally bad in Toronto, where unless I missed it there is not one single directional sign pointing to Montreal in the entire GTA.


I think you're right, from what I remember when I lived there. Yet in Montreal, there are signs for Toronto minutes from downtown at the Turcot interchange.


Anyway, signs on major highways are supposed to be for people who don't know the environs and need to find their way.

I've noticed in Albany NY they have signs for Montreal - that is a fair distance... and in Plattsburgh (last city before the border) they even have signs "to autoroute 15" with the Quebec shield and everything.

[caltrane74]

Yes, no signs for Montreal inside Toronto - They are for Kingston.

That's as far east as the signs direct you from here.

[MolsonExport]

I think you're right, from what I remember when I lived there. Yet in Montreal, there are signs for Toronto minutes from downtown at the Turcot interchange.





Put in to help the SunLife company down the 401 :D

[Andy6]

Is this serious or sarcastic?

Honest question...

Serious. I guess another reason is that there are relatively few votes in doing Highway 17, because most of its users are Winnipeggers, but the Red Lake highway was a major issue at one time and it was clear that Toronto wasn't eager to give that district a direct route to Winnipeg.

[Acajack]

Serious. I guess another reason is that there are relatively few votes in doing Highway 17, because most of its users are Winnipeggers, but the Red Lake highway was a major issue at one time and it was clear that Toronto wasn't eager to give that district a direct route to Winnipeg.

That's interesting. Not looking for conspiracy theories but your comment about highways and concerns about favouring economic development in a neighbouring province reminded me of the difficulty in building a new bridge between Ottawa and Gatineau in my area. The province of Ontario is not the sole entity involved on the Ottawa side of course, but it's interesting to note all of the foot-dragging from the Ontario side. At least part of it is suspected to be because of the fear that improved access to the Gatineau side will lead to residents and business moving from Ottawa across the river to Quebec.

There is pretty much an entire neighbourhood in downtown Ottawa whose quality of life has been sacrificed because of the lack of a new truck route between the two cities and political dawdling over both the necessity and location of the bridge.

[Acajack]

I think you're right, from what I remember when I lived there. Yet in Montreal, there are signs for Toronto minutes from downtown at the Turcot interchange.

I've noticed in Albany NY they have signs for Montreal - that is a fair distance... and in Plattsburgh (last city before the border) they even have signs "to autoroute 15" with the Quebec shield and everything.

On autoroutes on Montreal Island you have directional signs pointing to Québec (City) and Trois-Rivières, Saint-Jérôme (north), Sherbrooke, New York, Vermont, Ottawa-Gatineau and Toronto.

[Kitchissippi]

The MTO only signs to the next major destination directly on that highway after it has passed a metropolitan area. "Montreal" appears on the eastbound 401 after Kingston. Within n urban area, it only signs the highways with numbers and direction (ie., 417 WEST). The reason Toronto is not signed on the 416 interchange is because 416 does not continue to Toronto but merely ends at the 401. However because Highway 7 goes to Toronto and does not pass through another major metropolitan area, that exit on the 417 is labelled for Toronto.

[Acajack]

The MTO only signs to the next major destination directly on that highway after it has passed a metropolitan area. "Montreal" appears on the eastbound 401 after Kingston. Within n urban area, it only signs the highways with numbers and direction (ie., 417 WEST). The reason Toronto is not signed on the 416 interchange is because 416 does not continue to Toronto but merely ends at the 401. However because Highway 7 goes to Toronto and does not pass through another major metropolitan area, that exit on the 417 is labelled for Toronto.

That's their "policy", but it doesn't make it smart.

I am glad you raised Highway 7 west of Ottawa. Every time I see that sign I always picture poor tourists from overseas in a rental car taking the 7 to get from Ottawa to Toronto...

[adriancanada]

On autoroutes on Montreal Island you have directional signs pointing to Québec (City) and Trois-Rivières, Saint-Jérôme (north), New York, Vermont, Ottawa-Gatineau and Toronto.

I love how the signs on the highways in Montreal actually post relevant, big city destinations, regardless of whether they are in a different province or even country! In addition, the 401 and 417 shields shown far in advance of the Ontario border are a nice touch. The MTQ has very 'far-sighted' and clear signage standards, with the MTO should strive to follow.

Ontario, on the other hand, seems to have a fear of posting directional signs to large cities. Instead of clear signs on the 401 directing motorists towards Ottawa and Montreal, much less important cities (Kingston, Cornwall) are posted instead. Often, no cities are written at all, indicating only the cardinal directions. On the QEW, I think there are no signs for Buffalo until south of Niagara Falls. Even worse, on the 401 west, Detroit doesn't appear on a single sign! The only indications that the border is nearby are the 'Bridge/Tunnel to USA' signs.

[Acajack]

I love how the signs on the highways in Montreal actually post relevant, big city destinations, regardless of whether they are in a different province or even country! In addition, the 401 and 417 shields shown far in advance of the Ontario border are a nice touch. The MTQ has very 'far-sighted' and clear signage standards, with the MTO should strive to follow.



It wasn't always this way in Montreal. For many years the destination city on the 40 westbound was Vaudreuil, not Ottawa. On the westbound 20 it was something like Dorion instead of Toronto I am pretty sure.

[JHikka]

TCH outside of Saint Andrew's, Newfoundland
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1348/1086750560_5e47ef4abb_b.jpg
Photo by myself.

[vid]

The Disraeli is called a freeway. And signs do not lie, ever.

And this is called an "Expressway".

http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/1371/spotthefreeway.jpg

And signs do not lie, ever! From left to right, you're looking at 1.5 miles of road.

The speed limit on that road is 70, but because the stops are so close together, you often can't actually reach 70! :haha: And yes, the speed limit on this "expressway" is 70km/h. The other "expressway" has a speed limit of 90. That's so fast! I don't know how cars don't disintegrate at that speed! :crazy:

Is this serious or sarcastic?

Honest question...

It's serious, and it isn't limited to highways. They won't connect our regional electrical grid into Manitoba, either. They're spending millions to connect Manitoba's grid to Southern Ontario, though. First Nations are fighting to have it routed near them so that they can abandon diesel generators, but the government wants it built in a more direct route, going through a region that has almost no communities at all, just funnelling the energy straight to Toronto without any stops. This is part of their plan to get rid of the coal plants in Southern Ontario.

The high voltage transmission lines with the highest capacity in Northern Ontario don't actually provide power to anything in Northern Ontario. It connects Southern Ontario to Manitoba's hydro stations. Northwestern Ontario is in a situation now where we have a surplus of energy, but a lack of high voltage corridors to get that energy from where it is generated to where it is needed. And because of the province-wide rate, we pay more for our energy than it costs to produce it by a considerable margin. It doesn't really subsidize the south, but it certainly hurts the region's industry.

Serious. I guess another reason is that there are relatively few votes in doing Highway 17, because most of its users are Winnipeggers, but the Red Lake highway was a major issue at one time and it was clear that Toronto wasn't eager to give that district a direct route to Winnipeg.

We've been getting improvements lately, but I think that is based more on wanting to retain these two seats than an actual interest in improving the region. The new Highway 11/17 from Rosslyn to Shabaqua won't even start construction until 2030. The Highway 17 reconstruction west of Kenora was announced in Ontario after it was announced in Manitoba, because having their nice, new highway lead to Ontario's two lane cowtrail would make Ontario look bad. They do just enough to say they're doing something.

That's their "policy", but it doesn't make it smart.

Nothing about the MTO is smart.

[adriancanada]

It wasn't always this way in Montreal. For many years the destination city on the 40 westbound was Vaudreuil, not Ottawa. On the westbound 20 it was something like Dorion instead of Toronto I am pretty sure.

Good thing they changed it then! Now if only Ontario could do the same...

[haljackey]

Highway 401: The Macdonald–Cartier Freeway in Dorchester, Ontario.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/de/401_Hilly.jpg/1024px-401_Hilly.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5146/5616802599_980a0a52d3_b.jpg

Photos by me

The freeway descends and cuts right through the Dorchester Swamp. If the 401 was built today it would certainly be built around the wetland area.

Also the Don Valley Parkway in Toronto wouldn't be built if it were by today's standards. :P

[Andy6]

That's interesting. Not looking for conspiracy theories but your comment about highways and concerns about favouring economic development in a neighbouring province reminded me of the difficulty in building a new bridge between Ottawa and Gatineau in my area. .

You could also point out the foot-dragging on turning the TCH stretch from Rivière-du-Loup to New Brunswick into an autoroute.

[kool maudit]

the dreaded turcot interchange in montreal:

http://www.arch.mcgill.ca/prof/sijpkes/CAANS-2010/constructionechangeurturcot_1966.jpg (McGill)

http://www.documentone.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/turcot-interchange-2.jpg (documentone.org)

http://madocphoto.smugmug.com/photos/618897897_SjNWt-L.jpg (madocphoto.com)

[Acajack]

You could also point out the foot-dragging on turning the TCH stretch from Rivière-du-Loup to New Brunswick into an autoroute.

Indeed. There was certainly a perception that this highway would only benefit Atlantic Canada.

[haljackey]

What a mess that Turcot is. I heard it could cost billions to fix it up.

Better do it soon before another overpass in Quebec collapses. :(

[kool maudit]

it's got a certain blade runner appeal though. until it falls on me, i like it.

[Tone]

You could also point out the foot-dragging on turning the TCH stretch from Rivière-du-Loup to New Brunswick into an autoroute.

Indeed. There was certainly a perception that this highway would only benefit Atlantic Canada.

I work on many road projects including the 85 (the TCH stretch from Rivière-du-Loup to New Brunswick) and i just want to let you know that there is alot of work going on right now. It wont stop until this road becomes a full divided 4 lanes freeway (all interchanges) from Edmunston to Rivière-du-Loup.:tup:

[Dirt_Devil]

I am surprised to be the first one to mention Quebec City's extensive highway system. Can't think of any other city this size that has so many highways.


North-South highways are as follow:

- Duplessis highway (A-540)
- Henri-IV highway (A-73 and further becomes A-573)
- Robert-Bourassa highway (A-740)
- Laurentienne highway (A-973)

East-West highways:

- Charest highway (A-40)
- Capitale highway (A-40 but 3km north of Charest)
- Dufferin highway (A-440)
- Jean-Lesage highway (A-20) on the south shore

You can get EVERYWHERE in this city with highways. You actually have to use one,2,3 or 4 highways to go through the entire city.

[MolsonExport]

^ironic how one of the loveliest cities on the continent has soul-sucking expressways throughout (which I have traveled many times...much better condition than their Montreal counterparts)

[MolsonExport]

TCH outside of Saint Andrew's, Newfoundland
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1348/1086750560_5e47ef4abb_b.jpg
Photo by myself.

nice. We never see NFLD roadscapes here.

[freeweed]

^ironic how one of the loveliest cities on the continent has soul-sucking expressways throughout

I don't know if it's so much ironic, or maybe it's just that people exaggerate the negative effects of expressways ("soul-sucking", really?).

Obviously it's entirely possible to have an efficient road network while still having a very beautiful city. Maybe we can learn something from this instead of being so black and white about the issue. :shrug:

[Acajack]

I work on many road projects including the 85 (the TCH stretch from Rivière-du-Loup to New Brunswick) and i just want to let you know that there is alot of work going on right now. It wont stop until this road becomes a full divided 4 lanes freeway (all interchanges) from Edmunston to Rivière-du-Loup.:tup:

Yes, I know. I go by there at least once a year. Things are advancing and will be done eventually (2017? 2018?). It's taken a long time, at least when you consider how long the A-20 has been completed to Rivière-du-Loup (1960s? 1970s?). Although it is true that NB-2 was only completed as a four-lane from Edmundston to Nova Scotia a few years ago...

[flar]

I don't know if it's so much ironic, or maybe it's just that people exaggerate the negative effects of expressways ("soul-sucking", really?).

Obviously it's entirely possible to have an efficient road network while still having a very beautiful city. Maybe we can learn something from this instead of being so black and white about the issue. :shrug:

Quebec City is very sprawly and quite unimpressive outside the core. If I'm not mistaken, they've already partially dismantled some overpasses in the St-Roch area, but there is still a mess of roads and overpasses coming into the downtown area.

[MolsonExport]

^indeed. hence my comment (they do suck the soul out of the immediate areas...unless you consider the banality of fast food chains, gasoline retailers and shopping to be full of soul). of course, you don't have to agree with my assessment. of course, I see the benefits of an efficient expressway system. But they are disproportionate to the population in Quebec city, and I imagine, thus a disproportionate drain on resources. Freeways are fantastically expensive to maintain.

[The_Architect]

Quebec City has the most kms of freeway per capita of any city in Canada, more than Toronto.

("City" doesn't include that 2,000 person town off the 401)

[Andy6]

^indeed. hence my comment (they do suck the soul out of the immediate areas...unless you consider the banality of fast food chains, gasoline retailers and shopping to be full of soul). of course, you don't have to agree with my assessment. of course, I see the benefits of an efficient expressway system. But they are disproportionate to the population in Quebec city, and I imagine, thus a disproportionate drain on resources. Freeways are fantastically expensive to maintain.

Well, in the Jean Lesage-Robert Bourassa era this was all meant to be symbolic of the new Quebec. The freeways in Quebec City seemed to spare little but the area right inside the walls.

[Tone]

Yes, I know. I go by there at least once a year. Things are advancing and will be done eventually (2017? 2018?). It's taken a long time, at least when you consider how long the A-20 has been completed to Rivière-du-Loup (1960s? 1970s?). Although it is true that NB-2 was only completed as a four-lane from Edmundston to Nova Scotia a few years ago...

Right. The targeted year of completion is 2018 and i believe its feasable but well see i guess!

If you drive by this summer, youll see all the work from Cabano to the NB border. Lots of rock blasting in the mountain ahead!

[Acajack]

Right. The targeted year of completion is 2018 and i believe its feasable but well see i guess!

If you drive by this summer, youll see all the work from Cabano to the NB border. Lots of rock blasting in the mountain ahead!

C'est toujours un plaisir de voir des panneaux routiers arborant le nom de St-Louis-du-Ha!-Ha! :tup:

[roccerfeller]

I'd love to see some QC highway pics, some Edmonton pics, and some more Winnipeg pics. I can do some of the Winnipeg part if I come across some spots to take some shots, and Edmonton when I'm there if I spend time on the highways/freeways/expressways

[SHOFEAR]

edmonton

two more like this are UC and another couple in the works.

http://www.cdbi.org/awards/2008/Calgary%20Trail%20Overview.jpg

source

http://www.cdbi.org/awards/index.html

[roccerfeller]

ooo thats a beauty thanks SHO :)

[Metro-One]

Here are the two largest interchanges u/c in Metro Vancouver right now

The very impressive Cape Horn interchange where the #1 meets Lougheed highway, United Blvd. and the Mary Hill bypass.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5174/5391657835_8a411e3768_o.png

I hope this image isn't too large for some of you. I would bet this will be the largest interchange in western Canada when done, especially in regards to traffic volume.

Here are some pics of it being built:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5100/5477479343_e370d7a2d9_b.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5179/5478076098_e1f611e3db_b.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5052/5477475677_d044bdacfa_b.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5292/5477473765_df1e3933d3_b.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5013/5475766374_caf592d43c_b.jpg


And this is probably the second largest, it just started construction, where the new SFPR meets the #99.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4112/5396305067_492b2d06bb_o.png

all pics are my own

http://www.flickr.com/photos/30634635@N03/page2/

Cheers

[roccerfeller]

Oh yeah that looks crazy Metro - I saw that when I was in Vancouver area. Its looking like its come a ways since I last saw it though, although it was only last fall I was there

[Tone]

C'est toujours un plaisir de voir des panneaux routiers arborant le nom de St-Louis-du-Ha!-Ha! :tup:

Yeah, i mean, how can you be sad if you live in a place with a name like that.:haha:

Justement, le tronçon St-Louis-du-Ha!-Ha!-Cabano devrait ouvrir vers la fin de l'été je crois, si tout va bien.

[FrAnKs]

Yeah, i mean, how can you be sad if you live in a place with a name like that.:haha:

Can't actually be as much worst as living in ''Contrecoeur'' What do you think :D ?