Regina Bypass Thread

[Drofmab]

Originally Posted by Corndogger

Doesn't matter. Freeways are supposed to be controlled limited access facilities. Mixing road types is stupid and dangerous.

Correct. The Bypass isn't a freeway. I can't find any official source referring to it as a freeway or controlled access highway. It is at best an expressway (divided highway with limited access, but not full access control).

Also worth noting that many (most?) freeways prohibit farm equipment, oversized vehicles, and slow moving vehicles... so, if the Bypass were a freeway, we'd likely have a lot of annoyed farmers & RMs.

[Scruff Bucket]

Originally Posted by VANRIDERFAN

Well there are at grade crossings all along the TCH from Ontario to Banff ...

I guess that's the big difference between Canada's TCH and U.S.' Interstates. On our (big) road trip taking the kids to Disneyland, California this past summer, I don't recall seeing any general-use, at-grade, vehicle, crossing-intersections along these routes, even within the major cities we passed through (Billings, MN, Idaho Falls, ID, Salt Lake City, UT, Las Vegas, Reno and Winnemucca, NV, Los Angeles and San Francisco, CA). Pretty well all of the intersections along the Interstates consists of bridged over/under passes and their associated networks of ample-sized on/off ramps, including accesses for smaller towns and rest stops. That's understandable, since driving speeds on the Interstates are typically 70, 75, 80 mph (113, 121, 129 kmph), depending on which of the states we were in, 60, 65 mph (97, 105 kmph) within the cities and some mountainous regions, and 60 mph through construction zones!

We were saddened when we exited the last Interstate at Glendive toward Plentywood, MN to return home! Great to be back home, though!

[bomberjet]

Yes, of course there are thousands of at grade crossings everywhere. But when building this highway, which is a freeway except for the two crossings, whyyyy? $2 billion and you still have at grade crossings...

As was mentioned, mixing road classes like this are bad. Perimeter Hwy at Winnipeg has fatalities regularly. Like almost monthly it seems as of late.. Not that a freeway will eliminate accidents. But still.

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

Yes, of course there are thousands of at grade crossings everywhere. But when building this highway, which is a freeway except for the two crossings, whyyyy? $2 billion and you still have at grade crossings...

As was mentioned, mixing road classes like this are bad. Perimeter Hwy at Winnipeg has fatalities regularly. Like almost monthly it seems as of late.. Not that a freeway will eliminate accidents. But still.

Totally agree. Sometime governments just have to say no to people for the greater good.

[brithgob]

Originally Posted by Drofmab

Correct. The Bypass isn't a freeway. I can't find any official source referring to it as a freeway or controlled access highway. It is at best an expressway (divided highway with limited access, but not full access control).

Also worth noting that many (most?) freeways prohibit farm equipment, oversized vehicles, and slow moving vehicles... so, if the Bypass were a freeway, we'd likely have a lot of annoyed farmers & RMs.

I thought the logistics companies that the government was trying to lure to the GTH were demanding nothing less than an interstate-grade freeway.

[Treesplease]

Originally Posted by brithgob

I thought the logistics companies that the government was trying to lure to the GTH were demanding nothing less than an interstate-grade freeway.

You mean SaskPower?

[Drofmab]

Originally Posted by brithgob

I thought the logistics companies that the government was trying to lure to the GTH were demanding nothing less than an interstate-grade freeway.

...and there's the problem. The Interstate system already exists. And logistics hubs already exist on the Interstate system.

Locating in Canada, on (at best) the TransCanada makes very little sense for international companies... sure, you can attempt to lure with Foreign Trade Zones & freeway segments, and upgraded highways, and, and, and... but at the end of the day, the US already has the infrastructure, ports, skilled labour force, etc in-place & in matured state (logistics hubs in Chicago & Texas are top-notch, gold standard... to expect Home Depot to relocate to the GTH? Dreaming in Technicolor... it'll take a LOT of tax incentives to convince them. And even then, they'll pull out when the tax incentives end - think call-centres in Regina).

Yes, the US rail network bottlenecks in key locations like Chicago, so Canada's lack of major rail bottlenecks may be an advantage we have over US logistic centres (and I'm not even sure about that one - maybe our rail network bottlenecks just as badly)... but I'm not sure that compensates for Canada's inferior highway/freeway system.

Sure, there's an argument to be made that convincing Canadian companies like Loblaws, Indigo, Canadian Tire, etc to locate at the GTH should be the focus. IMO, it's still a tough sell - there are better (non-landlocked) logistic centres in Canada. As a transfer point for raw materials & products produced in Canada, destined for the US or Mexico, or westcoast ports? I guess. But that's not the vision I've heard the gov't trying to sell.

There's a reason the GTH is still floundering after all these years. The lack of a freeway or upgraded highway are Regina may be a minor contributory factor, but it's not the lynchpin.

[BrutallyDishonest2]

Originally Posted by Drofmab

Sure, there's an argument to be made that convincing Canadian companies like Loblaws, Indigo, Canadian Tire, etc to locate at the GTH should be the focus. IMO, it's still a tough sell - there are better (non-landlocked) logistic centres in Canada.

Even if the GTH decides that they want to focus on Canadian firms, what is the incentive to be in Regina over Winnipeg, let alone Calgary!

Regina will get a few companies here and there (they just added a chemical distributor) but they really give the GTH to the city and abandon the whole, failed concept. Make it a generic industrial park.

[Stormer]

Two Sherwood officials have confirmed that the Suncor-related development involving the RM is the proposal for a gas bar and commercial truck stop just north of where the Trans-Canada Highway meets Fleming Road. The land in question is owned by Poissant’s parents, Roch and Bonnie Poissant.

http://leaderpost.com/news/local-new...tim-probe-case

[Drofmab]

Originally Posted by BrutallyDishonest2

Even if the GTH decides that they want to focus on Canadian firms, what is the incentive to be in Regina over Winnipeg, let alone Calgary!

Regina will get a few companies here and there (they just added a chemical distributor) but they really give the GTH to the city and abandon the whole, failed concept. Make it a generic industrial park.

Exactly. The GTH offers no strategic advantage over other inland ports. Only (potential) advantage comes from government coffers in the form of tax incentives. And those won't continue forever. When they run out, so will the companies' time here. Relocating isn't that hard.

I said it years ago: the GTH emporer has no clothes.

[UPP]

Originally Posted by Drofmab

Exactly. The GTH offers no strategic advantage over other inland ports. Only (potential) advantage comes from government coffers in the form of tax incentives. And those won't continue forever. When they run out, so will the companies' time here. Relocating isn't that hard.

I said it years ago: the GTH emporer has no clothes.

In fact, I'd go even further and say we are at a strategic disadvantage given there is no local population compared to Calgary or even Winnipeg. Sears cited this as one reason why they moved from Regina to Calgary; it didn't make sense to ship out of Regina when the market in Calgary is 6 times larger already.

[Drofmab]

Originally Posted by UPP

In fact, I'd go even further and say we are at a strategic disadvantage given there is no local population compared to Calgary or even Winnipeg. Sears cited this as one reason why they moved from Regina to Calgary; it didn't make sense to ship out of Regina when the market in Calgary is 6 times larger already.

That would be a business-by-business decision, and would be driven strongly by the market the warehouse aims to serve. If it were aiming to serve AB, SK, MB & Northern Ontario, the GTH might be better located than Calgary... but Winnipeg might also be in the running.

The idea that because the GTH is near the east/west centre of Canada (and North America, for that matter), it makes sense to warehouse here simply ignores the reality that we live in. It's only slightly less ridiculous than Dundurn as the logical spot for the Brightenview mega-mall.

Both projects seem to have been developed in bubbles, shielded from outside influences like "business reality" and "facts."

====
EDIT: having re-read the article above, how fitting is it that Brightenview signed a deal to purchase land at the GTH? And is it surprising we've heard nothing further about the deal, despite assurances in March that "more details will be announced when “conditions are removed” later this year."? #FacePalm

[Treesplease]

Originally Posted by Drofmab

That would be a business-by-business decision, and would be driven strongly by the market the warehouse aims to serve. If it were aiming to serve AB, SK, MB & Northern Ontario, the GTH might be better located than Calgary... but Winnipeg might also be in the running.

The idea that because the GTH is near the east/west centre of Canada (and North America, for that matter), it makes sense to warehouse here simply ignores the reality that we live in. It's only slightly less ridiculous than Dundurn as the logical spot for the Brightenview mega-mall.

Both projects seem to have been developed in bubbles, shielded from outside influences like "business reality" and "facts."
====
EDIT: having re-read the article above, how fitting is it that Brightenview signed a deal to purchase land at the GTH? And is it surprising we've heard nothing further about the deal, despite assurances in March that "more details will be announced when “conditions are removed” later this year."? #FacePalm

lol. We are building infrastructure here dammit. Roads and bridges and stuff - with other people's money no less. Lets not let facts get in the way.

[Drofmab]

Originally Posted by Treesplease

lol. We are building infrastructure here dammit. Roads and bridges and stuff - with other people's money no less. Lets not let facts get in the way.

Right! Sorry, my mistake.

[VANRIDERFAN]

Originally Posted by UPP

In fact, I'd go even further and say we are at a strategic disadvantage given there is no local population compared to Calgary or even Winnipeg. Sears cited this as one reason why they moved from Regina to Calgary; it didn't make sense to ship out of Regina when the market in Calgary is 6 times larger already.

John Deere has a regional distribution centre here

John Deere dealers in North America are backed up by an extensive network of regional parts depots.

Atlanta, Georgia
Dallas, Texas
Denver, Colorado
Lathrop, California
Portland, Oregon
Edmonton, Alberta
Grimsby, Ontario
Regina, Saskatchewan

[Drofmab]

Originally Posted by Drofmab

...It's only slightly less ridiculous than Dundurn as the logical spot for the Brightenview mega-mall.

Both projects seem to have been developed in bubbles, shielded from outside influences like "business reality" and "facts."

====
EDIT: having re-read the article above, how fitting is it that Brightenview signed a deal to purchase land at the GTH? And is it surprising we've heard nothing further about the deal, despite assurances in March that "more details will be announced when “conditions are removed” later this year."? #FacePalm

Great timing (or Geoff Leo watches this page): Land agreement premier touted as proof 'taxpayers are making money' at GTH in limbo

[BrutallyDishonest2]

Originally Posted by Drofmab

Great timing (or Geoff Leo watches this page): Land agreement premier touted as proof 'taxpayers are making money' at GTH in limbo

Man, I think Leo is going to be disappointed when he learns they don't give Pulitzers to Canadians.

Again I think it's a very, very big stretch to imply as Leo very clearly does, that the ridiculous Brightenview announcement somehow had something to do with Leo's reporting.

The land sale contract between Brightenview and the GTH was signed at an intriguing time.

A document obtained through access to information shows the contract was signed on Feb. 3 at 11:30 a.m. CST.

Coincidentally, at 5:30 a.m. that very morning, CBC's iTeam broke the GTH land deal story that has become the subject of such controversy.

When asked if there was any connection between the timing of this deal and CBC's story, Richards said "absolutely not."

To buy that conspiracy you'd have to believe that Lorne Nystrom(!!!) was willing to get his clients to sign a deal just to help out the bloody Sask Party. I mean come on.


But otherwise, yes Leo and all of the other media outlets watch these threads like hawks.

[Drofmab]

Originally Posted by BrutallyDishonest2

Again I think it's a very, very big stretch to imply as Leo very clearly does, that the ridiculous Brightenview announcement somehow had something to do with Leo's reporting.
...
To buy that conspiracy you'd have to believe that Lorne Nystrom(!!!) was willing to get his clients to sign a deal just to help out the bloody Sask Party. I mean come on.

Agreed - that's a ridiculous connection.

[Stormer]

MSE Walls are Mechanically Stabilized Earth retaining walls.

The Regina Bypass is using MSE walls to retain embankment fills for roadways and at bridge abutments. The MSE walls on the Regina Bypass consist of precast concrete facings and steel soil reinforcing strips embedded in the backfill behind the facing. There will be over 20,000m2 of MSE walls installed on the Regina Bypass project.




http://www.reginabypass.ca/what-is-an-mse-wall/

[thefourthtower]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1w6...ature=youtu.be
Massive