Calgary Stoney Trail [Ring Road]

[Mazrim]

Originally Posted by You Need A Thneed

Future extra lanes. Wide Load corridor.

Believe me, it's not about wide loads. There's no such designation as "wide load corridor". High loads? Oversize loads? Yes. But none will ever require you to have a wide open median like that, ever.

It's a cost saving measure. Originally it was proposed as a concrete median. Paint is cheaper than concrete, though the size of that painted median is hilarious looking.

[MichaelS]

Originally Posted by Mazrim

Believe me, it's not about wide loads. There's no such designation as "wide load corridor". High loads? Oversize loads? Yes. But none will ever require you to have a wide open median like that, ever.

It's a cost saving measure. Originally it was proposed as a concrete median. Paint is cheaper than concrete, though the size of that painted median is hilarious looking.

Seems like a large dip in safety to save some $$$ to me.

[lubicon]

Originally Posted by Mazrim

Believe me, it's not about wide loads. There's no such designation as "wide load corridor". High loads? Oversize loads? Yes. But none will ever require you to have a wide open median like that, ever.

It's a cost saving measure. Originally it was proposed as a concrete median. Paint is cheaper than concrete, though the size of that painted median is hilarious looking.

Originally Posted by MichaelS

Seems like a large dip in safety to save some $$$ to me.

And at the end of the day there is no cost savings at all, just a shuffling of where the money will come from. With concrete medians you will limit (or eliminate) head on collisions and the associated fatalities/serious injuries/vehicle damage that goes with it. Without it you will have higher costs for the accidents that do occur. The difference is the money will come from health care budget rather than the transportation/infrastructure budget but at the end of the day it is still taxpayer money so this doesn't save a dime. It probably costs more in the long run.

[Mazrim]

I don't disagree at all with that. I imagine the contractor/designers went to the government and asked if they could make the change, and provided reasons it would be okay (I would guess they quoted clear zone requirements which should be fine here, since there is plenty of room for the majority of errant vehicles to correct themselves in time). Perhaps they had to file a design exception, but I wouldn't know for sure.

A raised median can help prevent head on collisions, but the chance of there being one at this particular spot is less likely than say...a 2 lane road at 100km/h. If enough concerns are raised in the future, a jersey barrier could be installed in the middle of the road .

[MalcolmTucker]

It is also not a huge deal to run a continual form M-barrier (or whatever our standard is now) down the bridge.

[Barnes]

I would like to meet these designers who are unfamiliar with snow and its tendency to cover up paint on a road. It's going to be a cluster in the winter.

[Peachycarnihan]

Originally Posted by lubicon

And at the end of the day there is no cost savings at all, just a shuffling of where the money will come from. With concrete medians you will limit (or eliminate) head on collisions and the associated fatalities/serious injuries/vehicle damage that goes with it. Without it you will have higher costs for the accidents that do occur. The difference is the money will come from health care budget rather than the transportation/infrastructure budget but at the end of the day it is still taxpayer money so this doesn't save a dime. It probably costs more in the long run.

There will be concrete median barriers on the bridge when it fully opens later this year. The current arrangement is temporary whilst there is a speed restriction and only one lane in each direction.

The original Schedule 18 drawing shows no raised median, just concrete barriers and this is what is being built. 'Stage 1' (ie. 2013) requires 2 lanes in each direction and 'Ultimate' allows for 3 lanes in each direction and a 6m median.

[Mazrim]

Originally Posted by Peachycarnihan

The original Schedule 18 drawing shows no raised median, just concrete barriers and this is what is being built. 'Stage 1' (ie. 2013) requires 2 lanes in each direction and 'Ultimate' allows for 3 lanes in each direction and a 6m median.

You're right! I was looking at the ultimate design. My bad.

[Acey]

You can PM yyc_engineer and he'll likely be able to shed some insight, he's answered all my questions about the project so far.

[craner]

Originally Posted by 5seconds

I'm thinking 1 year, but who knows!

One year would be great . . . But seems optimistic.