The 401 - Page 9

TownGuy · #**161** Posted **Nov 8, 2014, 3:15 PM**

Is the stretch of 401 between the WDL and Stevenson Road in Oshawa getting upgraded at all? It is pretty sketchy right now, especially around Brock Road in Whitby. It will seem especially odd if they don't upgrade it as a little patch of obsolete highway sandwiched between 2 stretches of modern highway.

sonysnob · #**162** Posted **Nov 9, 2014, 4:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TownGuy

Is the stretch of 401 between the WDL and Stevenson Road in Oshawa getting upgraded at all? It is pretty sketchy right now, especially around Brock Road in Whitby. It will seem especially odd if they don't upgrade it as a little patch of obsolete highway sandwiched between 2 stretches of modern highway.

There aren't any definitive plans to widen the 401 through Whitby right now, but, bridge replacements are programmed for both the Henry and Brock Street overpasses in Whitby, which are obvious precursors to actual widening occurring.

TownGuy · #**163** Posted **Nov 9, 2014, 6:18 PM**

Any word on lighting? I'm assuming the stretch they are working on around the WDL will be getting high mast? But that's what I mean, there will be that awkward stretch between the WDL and Oshawa that will be strangely unlit.

sonysnob · #**164** Posted **Nov 9, 2014, 11:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TownGuy

Any word on lighting? I'm assuming the stretch they are working on around the WDL will be getting high mast? But that's what I mean, there will be that awkward stretch between the WDL and Oshawa that will be strangely unlit.

It's possible that there could be some interchange improvements when the overpasses are replaced which could involve some lighting improvements, but you're right, there will be a gap in the continuous lighting of the 401 through Whitby.

There is a similar gap in the continuous lighting along the QEW through western Mississauga between the Royal Windsor Drive and Mississauga Road interchanges.

Innsertnamehere · #**165** Posted **Nov 11, 2014, 6:00 AM**

Highway 401 in 1959 at Meadowvale Road. Today this same stretch of highway is 14 lanes wide and has an AADT of over 240,000.

• Video Link

https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.79935...!3m1!1e3?hl=en

MolsonExport · #**166** Posted **Nov 11, 2014, 1:16 PM**

^those were the days. A leisurely drive to the North of the city.

ScreamingViking · #**167** Posted **Nov 13, 2014, 3:50 AM**

Great find on the video

sonysnob · #**168** Posted **Nov 29, 2014, 5:28 PM**

MTO will be starting the widening of Hwy 401 through Cobourg for 7.5 east of Burnham Street starting next year:

They are currently seeking contract administration services:

Quote:

Construction Contract Administration Services for Contract 2014-4032,
GWP 205-00-00 Highway 401 Widening both EBLs and WBLs From 0.6 km West of Burnham Street (IC #472) Easterly for 7.5 km to 2.3 km East of Nagle Road
This Contract includes Grading, Drainage, Granular Base, Hot Mix Paving, Electrical and Structural/Structural Rehabilitation. Highway 401 is to be widened to 6 lanes with fully paved shoulders and reconfiguration of County Road 45 interchange. The realignment and widening of the Burnham Street access ramps to Highway 401 westbound and eastbound to accommodate the new alignments of the 3rd lane.

1overcosc · #**169** Posted **Nov 29, 2014, 6:18 PM**

Tesla has begun installing its superchargers along the 401 corridor. A new supercharger just opened up in Kingston by the Division Street exit. Given the location it now means that trips from Toronto to Ottawa or Montreal can be completed with the supercharger network.

TownGuy · #**170** Posted **Nov 30, 2014, 5:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by sonysnob

MTO will be starting the widening of Hwy 401 through Cobourg for 7.5 east of Burnham Street starting next year:

They are currently seeking contract administration services:

Welcome news. The 4 lane stretch between the exits in Cobourg is a bit of a nightmare right now.

It's strange that the widening will just sort of end at an arbitrary spot at Nagle road and not an exit. I know that they do have plans of widening well passed that in the future, though.

333609543 · #**171** Posted **Dec 1, 2014, 5:23 AM**

The 401 needs widening right from the 401/409 interchange up until the 401/427 interchange. It took just over an hour and a half just to get through 5km of highway.

MoreTrains · #**172** Posted **Dec 1, 2014, 3:01 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 333609543

The 401 needs widening right from the 401/409 interchange up until the 401/427 interchange. It took just over an hour and a half just to get through 5km of highway.

I dont necessarily think that widening wil be the be all end all. What really needs to happen is a parallel 400 series 20-30 KM North of the 401, better connections to major hubs with less on/off ramps to reduce congestion and a better alternative to driving such as HSR. Widening of roads just encourages more traffic.

Innsertnamehere · #**173** Posted **Dec 1, 2014, 7:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TownGuy

Welcome news. The 4 lane stretch between the exits in Cobourg is a bit of a nightmare right now.

It's strange that the widening will just sort of end at an arbitrary spot at Nagle road and not an exit. I know that they do have plans of widening well passed that in the future, though.

MTO often ends widenings at bridges, ie the nrxt 401 widening in Mississauga will end at the credit river bridge. They do it to avoid the cost of widening the bridge, from my understanding.

Horus · #**174** Posted **Dec 5, 2014, 4:21 PM**

Would it be too much to ask for the Cobourg area widening to include changes to the "Slower traffic keep right" signs in that Cobourg-Bowmanville section? The number of drivers who lazily stay in the middle lane in that stretch is astounding. "Keep right except to pass" would seem a more appropriate message.

kwoldtimer · #**175** Posted **Dec 5, 2014, 4:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Horus

Would it be too much to ask for the Cobourg area widening to include changes to the "Slower traffic keep right" signs in that Cobourg-Bowmanville section? The number of drivers who lazily stay in the middle lane in that stretch is astounding. "Keep right except to pass" would seem a more appropriate message.

On the three lane sections of the 401, the slowest car traffic is almost always in the middle lane.

MoreTrains · #**176** Posted **Dec 5, 2014, 6:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

On the three lane sections of the 401, the slowest car traffic is almost always in the middle lane.

Which sucks. In England the outside lane has all the slow traffic (non-passing vehicles) the middle lane is for passing and the inside lane is for passing the passers. They also have an idea of what bumper to bumper spacing means which keeps traffic flowing at 60Mph (instead of the normal 70+) even in rush hour. We really should be going by that model.

sonysnob · #**177** Posted **Dec 8, 2014, 1:23 AM**

The new westbound lanes through the future West Durham Link interchange opened through Whibty and Ajax last week.

TownGuy · #**178** Posted **Dec 8, 2014, 1:29 AM**

^ Drove that myself on Friday. Unexpected and sure felt strange!

sonysnob · #**179** Posted **Dec 8, 2014, 1:39 AM**

It opened early on Thursday morning. The traffic jam that followed because of the new traffic pattern during the morning rush was pretty epic.

haljackey · #**180** Posted **Dec 31, 2014, 4:04 AM**

Some 401 news

Highway 3 junction opens
http://blogs.windsorstar.com/news/di...ay-401-traffic

Improvements slated for Chatham stretch, but no mention of widening
http://www.chathamdailynews.ca/2014/...ements-planned

New Wonderland Road interchange on track
http://blackburnnews.com/london/2014...tion-on-track/

Some developments surrounding the VMP/401 upgrade/extension
http://www.lfpress.com/2014/12/07/ci...highway-access

Upgrades coming to Norwich Road, possibly precursor to 8-laning the 401 through Woodstock
http://www.1047.ca/news/local-news/h...401-underpass/

Speedsville Road overpass done, precursor to 10-laning the 401 between the 8 and 24
http://www.therecord.com/news-story/...-in-cambridge/

401 turns 50
http://www.dailycommercialnews.com/I...-401-1002041W/

Some other history
http://www.blogto.com/city/2014/10/a...01_in_toronto/