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Ontario's Highways

Started by un1, January 19, 2009, 03:21:49 PM

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SignGeek101

Quote from: AsphaltPlanet on October 02, 2015, 06:17:20 PM
A couple of photos of construction on Hwy 400 at the Hwy 9 interchange near Newmarket, north of Toronto.  Construction is underway to widen the highway through the interchange with the medium term goal of constructing HOV lanes on the 400 from Hwy 9 southern to Major Mack:









I guessing the old bridge will have to be extended as well. How many lanes is it being widened to?


AsphaltPlanet

The old bridge will be fully replaced as part of this work.  A couple of old bridges along the 400 between Toronto and Barrie are being replaced right now.

The new bridge will be built wide enough to have ten lanes beneath it in the future, but the highway is only going to be widened to eight lanes in the immediate future.
AsphaltPlanet.ca  Youtube -- Opinions expressed reflect the viewpoints of others.

AsphaltPlanet

#427
A couple of photos of the interchange between Highway 401 and Highway 412 Toll in Whitby.  These images were taken by me.  I'd prefer to be putting these up on my website (maybe one day I will), but it's just faster to do it this way:

View looking easterly from the Lake Ridge Road overpass:

http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_407-409_images/407E/WDL/2015/10-Oct/401_cl_407_east_WB_t_Oct15_24x16.jpg


View underneath the future ramp that will carry traffic between the eastbound 401 and Highway 412 northbound:

http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_407-409_images/407E/WDL/2015/10-Oct/401_structure_407-5_southwest-under_Sep15_24x16.jpg


Easterly view along Highway 401 from the 401 EB -> 412 NB ramp

http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_407-409_images/407E/WDL/2015/10-Oct/401_cl_407-5_east_t_Oct15_24x16.jpg


Westerly view along Highway 401 from the ramp that will carry traffic from the 412 SB -> 401 EB:

http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_407-409_images/407E/WDL/2015/10-Oct/401_cl_408_west_WB_Oct15_24x16.jpg


View of the unfinished ramp that will carry traffic from the 412 SB -> 401 EB.  The concrete deck screed is visible at the far side of the overpass:

http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_407-409_images/407E/WDL/2015/10-Oct/401_cl_408_east_rebar-ramp_Oct15_24x16.jpg


View looking beneath the above ramp:

http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_407-409_images/407E/WDL/2015/10-Oct/401_structure_108_under_south_Oct15_24x16.jpg


View from the Henry Street overpass in Whitby.  Note the lane shifts through the construction.  There was a pretty terrible collision through here the other night, where a transport truck slammed into queued traffic that had slowed due to night construction.  3 people were killed, and more than a dozen more were injured.

http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_407-409_images/407E/WDL/2015/10-Oct/401_cl_409_west_t_Oct15_24x16.jpg


Finally, this is the Henry Street overpass itself.  It is scheduled to be replaced starting next year.  It is one of the oldest highway overpasses in the province.

http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_407-409_images/407E/WDL/2015/10-Oct/401_cl_410_west_onramp_t_Oct15_24x16.jpg
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jakeroot

Out of curiosity, how does Ontario fund all their highways? Ontario, these days, reminds me of the US circa-1970s (lots and lots of freeway building).

AsphaltPlanet

Ontario raised its gas taxes a few years ago, and the 407 and 412 will be toll roads.  Doesn't hurt that 100,000 new people move to the region each year either.
AsphaltPlanet.ca  Youtube -- Opinions expressed reflect the viewpoints of others.

cl94

Quote from: AsphaltPlanet on October 04, 2015, 07:21:21 PM
Ontario raised its gas taxes a few years ago, and the 407 and 412 will be toll roads.  Doesn't hurt that 100,000 new people move to the region each year either.

What he said. The GTA is growing at a very rapid pace and the expansions are needed to move people around. A lot of what they're building on is currently farmland, but it won't be that way for long.
Please note: All posts represent my personal opinions and do not represent those of my employer or any of its partner agencies.

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AsphaltPlanet

Ontario has enacted some fairly strong land use planning legislation for a lot of rural lands surrounding the GTA.  A considerable amount of agricultural land, as well as land that is part of the Oak Ridges Moraine has been protected from development.  The legislation sets development targets that 40% of new development in an urban centre should be generated from intensification in existing city centres rather than new greenfield development.  Understandably considering the scope of the legislation, it has received mixed reviews from different segments of the population.

Back to Highways, a lot of construction is underway or has recently been completed over the past few years:

Completed in 2013, the complex freeway section on Hwy 401 was extended for four kilometres through Mississauga:
http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_401_images/Hwy401_HurontarioCons_images.htm
An additional contract to extend the collector lanes westerly through the Mavis Road interchange is expected to be called this winter, with completion in 2020.

In 2014, a twelve kilometre extension of Hwy 404 was completed from Newmarket towards Keswick.  This alleviated traffic congestion along Woodbine Avenue, and has served the growing South Lake Simcoe portion of York Region.
http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_404-406_images/Hwy404_RavenshoeExtn_images.htm

Currently underway, there is the 407 Extension, which will extend the 407 east to Harmony Road in Oshawa and see the construction of Highway 412, a new north-south link between the 401 and 407 through western Durham Region.  The government has stated that this work should be completed by the end of this year, but such a timeline doesn't seem realistic to me given the amount of work that remains.
http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_407-409_images/407E/Hwy407_ConstructionImages.htm

Twinning of the south end of the 406 through Welland should be completed in a few weeks.  I haven't been down that way in a while, but I can't see how this work wouldn't be finished on time:
http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_404-406_images/Hwy406_cons.htm#2012

Also, underway are projects to widen Highway 427 between the 409 and 407 to eight lanes (6 GPL + 2 HOV) as well as construction to widen the 410 to ten lanes between Highway 410 and Queen Street in Brampton (8 GPL + 2 HOV).

Work to extend the 427 to Major Mackenzie Drive should start within the next year or so, as the project has a tentative completion date of 2019.  An additional contract should be called to to widen the 427 through the 407 interchange.

Work to construct HOV lanes on the 400 between Hwy 9 and Major Mackenzie is likely going to be completed by the early 2020s, and the government has committed extending the current HOV lanes on the 404 as far north as Stouffville Road by 2019

West of Toronto, work to widen the 401 through Cambridge started earlier this year, and is expected to be completed by 2019.  Additionally, construction on a new four lane highway linking Kitchener/Waterloo to Guelph should be underway within the next year.  Some preparatory advanced work is currently ongoing.

This is in addition to the work that is ongoing to widen the K/W Expressway to six lanes through the western portion of the city:
http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_7_images/Contracts/Conestoga_Construction.htm#Jul15

Further, there are a number of transit improvements ongoing in the region as well.  Several years ago, all day, 30 minute service was introduced on the Lakeshore GO lines within the region, with construction on additional improvements underway.  A 6.4km extension of the Spadina Subway line is currently underway.  The project is several years behind schedule, and hundreds of millions of dollars over budget.  A new east-west light-rail transit line is being constructed within the Eglinton Avenue corridor as well.  This line will feature an 8km tunnel, as well as at-grade on road sections.  http://www.thecrosstown.ca/  A new rail link between the Airport and Union Station was completed this year as well.  https://www.upexpress.com/  Finally, several new BRT's are being built as well, most notably across the Hwy 7 corridor in southern York Region, and along the Highway 403 corridor through Mississauga.
AsphaltPlanet.ca  Youtube -- Opinions expressed reflect the viewpoints of others.

cl94

I was on 406 a couple months ago and everything was paved. While there was still a little bit of undivided highway, NB was entirely grade-separated. It will be done soon, if it isn't already. Next time I hit up Swiss Chalet, I'll head over there and try and grab pictures.
Please note: All posts represent my personal opinions and do not represent those of my employer or any of its partner agencies.

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AsphaltPlanet

Swiss Chalet is definitely worth crossing the border for (though I am surprised you know of it).

The 406 is supposed to be finished in November.  It's been almost finished since last November, so I have to expect it'd be done soon.
AsphaltPlanet.ca  Youtube -- Opinions expressed reflect the viewpoints of others.

cl94

Quote from: AsphaltPlanet on October 05, 2015, 10:29:41 AM
Swiss Chalet is definitely worth crossing the border for (though I am surprised you know of it).

The 406 is supposed to be finished in November.  It's been almost finished since last November, so I have to expect it'd be done soon.

For a short time after I moved to Buffalo, they had a couple locations on our side of the border that closed. The last time I was there, the place was full of Americans. I cross quite often for it, Chinese food (also mostly Americans), and Nestlé/Mars candy that can't be bought here.
Please note: All posts represent my personal opinions and do not represent those of my employer or any of its partner agencies.

Travel Mapping (updated weekly)

rickmastfan67

Quote from: AsphaltPlanet on October 05, 2015, 10:29:41 AM
Swiss Chalet is definitely worth crossing the border for (though I am surprised you know of it).

Add any restaurant that has hockey cards too (Tim Hortons). ;)

SignGeek101

Quote from: AsphaltPlanet on October 05, 2015, 09:03:33 AM
Ontario has enacted some fairly strong land use planning legislation for a lot of rural lands surrounding the GTA.  A considerable amount of agricultural land, as well as land that is part of the Oak Ridges Moraine has been protected from development.  The legislation sets development targets that 40% of new development in an urban centre should be generated from intensification in existing city centres rather than new greenfield development.  Understandably considering the scope of the legislation, it has received mixed reviews from different segments of the population.

Back to Highways, a lot of construction is underway or has recently been completed over the past few years:

Completed in 2013, the complex freeway section on Hwy 401 was extended for four kilometres through Mississauga:
http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_401_images/Hwy401_HurontarioCons_images.htm
An additional contract to extend the collector lanes westerly through the Mavis Road interchange is expected to be called this winter, with completion in 2020.

In 2014, a twelve kilometre extension of Hwy 404 was completed from Newmarket towards Keswick.  This alleviated traffic congestion along Woodbine Avenue, and has served the growing South Lake Simcoe portion of York Region.
http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_404-406_images/Hwy404_RavenshoeExtn_images.htm

Currently underway, there is the 407 Extension, which will extend the 407 east to Harmony Road in Oshawa and see the construction of Highway 412, a new north-south link between the 401 and 407 through western Durham Region.  The government has stated that this work should be completed by the end of this year, but such a timeline doesn't seem realistic to me given the amount of work that remains.
http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_407-409_images/407E/Hwy407_ConstructionImages.htm

Twinning of the south end of the 406 through Welland should be completed in a few weeks.  I haven't been down that way in a while, but I can't see how this work wouldn't be finished on time:
http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_404-406_images/Hwy406_cons.htm#2012

Also, underway are projects to widen Highway 427 between the 409 and 407 to eight lanes (6 GPL + 2 HOV) as well as construction to widen the 410 to ten lanes between Highway 410 and Queen Street in Brampton (8 GPL + 2 HOV).

Work to extend the 427 to Major Mackenzie Drive should start within the next year or so, as the project has a tentative completion date of 2019.  An additional contract should be called to to widen the 427 through the 407 interchange.

Work to construct HOV lanes on the 400 between Hwy 9 and Major Mackenzie is likely going to be completed by the early 2020s, and the government has committed extending the current HOV lanes on the 404 as far north as Stouffville Road by 2019

West of Toronto, work to widen the 401 through Cambridge started earlier this year, and is expected to be completed by 2019.  Additionally, construction on a new four lane highway linking Kitchener/Waterloo to Guelph should be underway within the next year.  Some preparatory advanced work is currently ongoing.

This is in addition to the work that is ongoing to widen the K/W Expressway to six lanes through the western portion of the city:
http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_7_images/Contracts/Conestoga_Construction.htm#Jul15

Further, there are a number of transit improvements ongoing in the region as well.  Several years ago, all day, 30 minute service was introduced on the Lakeshore GO lines within the region, with construction on additional improvements underway.  A 6.4km extension of the Spadina Subway line is currently underway.  The project is several years behind schedule, and hundreds of millions of dollars over budget.  A new east-west light-rail transit line is being constructed within the Eglinton Avenue corridor as well.  This line will feature an 8km tunnel, as well as at-grade on road sections.  http://www.thecrosstown.ca/  A new rail link between the Airport and Union Station was completed this year as well.  https://www.upexpress.com/  Finally, several new BRT's are being built as well, most notably across the Hwy 7 corridor in southern York Region, and along the Highway 403 corridor through Mississauga.

Ontario is sure quite busy with roads these days. You can find all the projects in the southern part being done and in the planning stages here: http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/highway-bridges/pdfs/southern-highways-program-2015-2019.pdf

Northern part here: http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/highway-bridges/pdfs/northern-highways-program-2015-2019.pdf

Unfortunately it appears the 417 work west of Ottawa to Renfrew has been pushed back though. You can't have it always your way.

Wish Manitoba would do something instead of talk about improvements, spend money doing study after study, and then decide not to build anything because of reasons.  :banghead:

Transportfan

#437
Does anyone know what's up with what looks like the construction of a new 403 to QEW westbound ramp  beside the existing one? Never read anything about this project:

https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.4947701,-79.6738053,232m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en







AsphaltPlanet

It is being constructed as part of advanced work to stage the repair/replacement of several bridges at the Ford Drive and Highway 403 interchanges in Oakville.

Eventually that structure will carry a westbound sub-collector lane between the Winston Churchill and Ford Drive interchanges, but that is a ways off.  You can see the long term plan here:

http://www.oakville.ca/assets/general%20-%20residents/transportationstudy-403-QEW-execsum.pdf
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AsphaltPlanet

Some new pics of Hwy 69 in Ontario, specifically covering the new four lane section of highway that opened earlier this year:









The full set and larger images are found here:
http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_60-69_images/Hwy69_p4_images.htm
AsphaltPlanet.ca  Youtube -- Opinions expressed reflect the viewpoints of others.

SignGeek101

The highway 64 overpass I guess isn't open yet. Hopefully the MTO completes this project on schedule. Thanks for the update.

AsphaltPlanet

The Hwy 64 bridge was mostly finished when I visited back in June.  Work through the Hwy 64 interchange is scheduled to be completed next summer, which definitely seems possible given the amount of work that has been done thus far.

The ends of the Hwy 64 bridge abutment in the photo have been pre-loaded with blast rock in order to try and mitigate settling.  Highway building in northern Ontario is difficult.  The areas between the rock outcroppings tend to be filled with swampy muskeg, which is prone to settlement when fill is applied to it.  The MTO has generally done a fairly good job constructing Hwy 69 in order to minimize settlement by pre-loading large fills for a year or so before asphalt is applied to the road bed, but there have been some settlement areas.

The Hwy 17 freeway west of Sudbury was one of the earlier freeways built through northeastern Ontario and has some really problematic areas.  It's supposed to be reconstructed starting next year, but is currently, unquestionably, the section of freeway in the poorest condition in all of Ontario.
AsphaltPlanet.ca  Youtube -- Opinions expressed reflect the viewpoints of others.

kennyshark

Last weekend was the first time I drove on Ontario Highway 400, between the GTA and Barrie.  I noticed the Ontario provincial logo carved into many of the overpasses, which looked cool.  Does anyone know the background or history of this artwork?

jwolfer

Quote from: AsphaltPlanet on October 04, 2015, 07:21:21 PM
Ontario raised its gas taxes a few years ago, and the 407 and 412 will be toll roads.  Doesn't hurt that 100,000 new people move to the region each year either.
Are most of the people coming from other parts of Canada? I have a friend from PEI and she told me lots of people leave for Toronto

cl94

Quote from: jwolfer on October 21, 2015, 01:11:47 PM
Quote from: AsphaltPlanet on October 04, 2015, 07:21:21 PM
Ontario raised its gas taxes a few years ago, and the 407 and 412 will be toll roads.  Doesn't hurt that 100,000 new people move to the region each year either.
Are most of the people coming from other parts of Canada? I have a friend from PEI and she told me lots of people leave for Toronto

That and immigration. Canada has one of the highest per-capita immigration rates in the world and the highest among G8 nations. If you can give anything to make the country a better place, they're more than happy to take you.
Please note: All posts represent my personal opinions and do not represent those of my employer or any of its partner agencies.

Travel Mapping (updated weekly)

jwolfer

Quote from: cl94 on October 21, 2015, 01:18:37 PM
Quote from: jwolfer on October 21, 2015, 01:11:47 PM
Quote from: AsphaltPlanet on October 04, 2015, 07:21:21 PM
Ontario raised its gas taxes a few years ago, and the 407 and 412 will be toll roads.  Doesn't hurt that 100,000 new people move to the region each year either.
Are most of the people coming from other parts of Canada? I have a friend from PEI and she told me lots of people leave for Toronto

That and immigration. Canada has one of the highest per-capita immigration rates in the world and the highest among G8 nations. If you can give anything to make the country a better place, they're more than happy to take you.
It seems Toronto and Vancouver are the main places people go. Are there any other places that are big population magnets. To keep on topic specifically in Ontario

AsphaltPlanet

Quote from: kennyshark on October 21, 2015, 12:47:23 PM
Last weekend was the first time I drove on Ontario Highway 400, between the GTA and Barrie.  I noticed the Ontario provincial logo carved into many of the overpasses, which looked cool.  Does anyone know the background or history of this artwork?

The coat of arms that have been embossed into the structures are original to the construction of the 400.  I'm not sure the exact rationale of why they were embossed into the overpass, aside from the obvious assumption that the government of the day was proud of the construction of the 400.  Some of the bridges along Hwy 2A had the crest engraved in them as well.

Many of the bridges along the 400 are now reaching the end of their service life.  Most of the newly proposed replacement bridges are also planned to have the provincial coat of arms, in addition to some other historic aesthetic elements.
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Stephane Dumas

There some aerial photos of Hwy-407 extension posted on Skyscraperpage forums.
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showpost.php?p=7206395&postcount=4430

SignGeek101

Anyone know when the construction season ends in southern Ontario? Does it depend on calendar day, or whenever it's just too cold to work?

Hopefully a Spring opening of the 407 then.

AsphaltPlanet

There isn't a date, the construction activity is dependent upon the temperature.

For example, it should be 7 degrees or warmer when applying HL1 hot mix asphalt, and concrete cannot be allowed the freeze during its curing phase or it will be damaged by the expansion.  There are ways to cure concrete in the cold, it just gets more expensive for the contractor to pour concrete because they have to supply some form of winter heat.
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