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Regional Boards => Canada => Topic started by: 7/8 on July 13, 2016, 07:11:30 PM

Title: Curb median without guardrail on the Linc (Hamilton)
Post by: 7/8 on July 13, 2016, 07:11:30 PM
Does anyone know why the Lincoln Alexander Parkway in Hamilton, ON has a curb median with no accompanying guardrail? I remember learning at the MTO (possibly from AASHTO '93?, I read too many binders for roadside safety :-D) that curbs are unsafe for freeways due to causing unpredictable changes in direction of the car colliding with the curb. It also seems weird since it's not that old (1997). Is that why the speed limit is only 90 km/h?

Here's an example from GSV
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FyExrEoX.png&hash=b3d7cba534aeb04f5cf9f58d88ffb62a4ab3ee0d)
https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.2169369,-79.8783819,3a,75y,283.72h,81.71t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sEds7hZDQwRjpp0-L8lpugA!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DEds7hZDQwRjpp0-L8lpugA%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D1.36818%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656 (https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.2169369,-79.8783819,3a,75y,283.72h,81.71t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sEds7hZDQwRjpp0-L8lpugA!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DEds7hZDQwRjpp0-L8lpugA%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D1.36818%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656)

The Conestoga Parkway in Kitchener has a curb separating the collectors and express around Victoria St, but it also has a W-beam guardrail. Do you think a guardrail should be installed on the Linc?

The Conestoga Parkway section from GSV
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fnf2QEIw.png&hash=6e6868abb6fb2443a645beab5c7a698528c030ec)
https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.4697215,-80.4746252,3a,75y,150.73h,77.32t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s-50FaknX_m_AnRbuuTwSaA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 (https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.4697215,-80.4746252,3a,75y,150.73h,77.32t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s-50FaknX_m_AnRbuuTwSaA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656)
Title: Re: Curb median without guardrail on the Linc (Hamilton)
Post by: SignGeek101 on July 13, 2016, 10:00:58 PM
I actually used to live within walking distance to the Linc, back in the day.

Not sure, but further down the Conestoga Parkway, I did find curb without guardrail.
https://goo.gl/maps/J1aoMyNndXv

Quote from: 7/8 on July 13, 2016, 07:11:30 PM
Is that why the speed limit is only 90 km/h?

One word: Ontario. I doubt if that curb was removed (and a rumble strip was added) it would raise the speed. Once again, the low speed here I think is due to a higher AADT and urban setting, which is great for ticket issuing. I recall when I lived there, everyone did at 100-110 though.

There is no excuse to have a perfectly straight, freeway standard roadway at 90 km/h. Around Dartnall Rd, yes. Everywhere else, no.
Title: Re: Curb median without guardrail on the Linc (Hamilton)
Post by: 7/8 on July 16, 2016, 07:37:59 PM
Quote from: SignGeek101 on July 13, 2016, 10:00:58 PM
I actually used to live within walking distance to the Linc, back in the day.

Not sure, but further down the Conestoga Parkway, I did find curb without guardrail.
https://goo.gl/maps/J1aoMyNndXv

Good point, how did I not notice this? For some reason in my mind, I'm thinking that a curbed median is worse than a curb on the outside shoulder, but I guess both are still dangerous.

Quote from: SignGeek101 on July 13, 2016, 10:00:58 PM
Quote from: 7/8 on July 13, 2016, 07:11:30 PM
Is that why the speed limit is only 90 km/h?

One word: Ontario. I doubt if that curb was removed (and a rumble strip was added) it would raise the speed. Once again, the low speed here I think is due to a higher AADT and urban setting, which is great for ticket issuing. I recall when I lived there, everyone did at 100-110 though.

There is no excuse to have a perfectly straight, freeway standard roadway at 90 km/h. Around Dartnall Rd, yes. Everywhere else, no.

The Conestoga Parkway is also 90 km/h, but that probably has to do with how windy it is. But still, it's not hard to do 110-120 on most portions :)

There is an annoying speed trap in Waterloo I've encountered for work. University Ave east of 85 is 4 lanes, has a divided median and bikes lanes, and has very little traffic. But despite all that, the speed limit is 50! I've so far seen two people busted here, hopefully I can make it until the end of my summer co-op :-D

My boss at the City of Waterloo told me he designed the road, and that the traffic study said only 2 lanes were needed. But apparently because of the RIM (now Blackberry) buildings, they expected a lot more growth :-/