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Ontario's Highways

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

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SignGeek101

Interesting the MTO decided to rip up the old westbound lanes. I always thought the westbound lanes would become the express lanes eastbound and the old eastbound lanes would be collector. But I guess there will be no extension of the express, collector arrangement. All the MTO would have to do is build another bunch of lanes westbound to complete the arrangement.

Hopefully it will be open by Fall.


cl94

Quote from: SignGeek101 on March 23, 2015, 12:51:41 PM
Interesting the MTO decided to rip up the old westbound lanes. I always thought the westbound lanes would become the express lanes eastbound and the old eastbound lanes would be collector. But I guess there will be no extension of the express, collector arrangement. All the MTO would have to do is build another bunch of lanes westbound to complete the arrangement.

Hopefully it will be open by Fall.

The stretch between Exit 401 and Lake Ridge Road has limited ROW. It appears that they're building in the capacity for express lanes at the interchange, but not demolishing a zillion houses to build an extension at this time.
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)

AsphaltPlanet

The long term plan calls for the collector lanes to be extended as far easterly as Hwy 412.  The study can be found here:

http://highway401brocktocourtice.ca/
The PDF of the roll plan through Ajax is here:
http://highway401brocktocourtice.ca/consultation-pic.html
http://highway401brocktocourtice.ca/pdf/11-20-14/Roll%20Plan%201%20-%20Brock%20Road%20to%20407%20West%20Durham%20Link-low.pdf

The 401 is being moved as far north as it is through the Hwy 412 interchange in order to accommodate the on and off ramps between both the future Lake Ride Road interchange as well as the interchange between Hwy 401 and Hwy 412.  It was either the railway or the highway that needed to be moved in order to construct the interchanges.
AsphaltPlanet.ca  Youtube -- Opinions expressed reflect the viewpoints of others.

cbeach40

#303
Would you like to see the Macdonald-Cartier Freeway signed along Highway 401 in some way again? If so, please email me stating your support.

I am putting together a proposal to resurrect the signage, and having a gauge of public support would aid that process.

Please note that no names, emails, or personal identifiers will be shared without permission.

- Chris
and waterrrrrrr!

MisterSG1

#304
Oh, the public in Southern Ontario will be scared of that word that starts with "F", the Canadian nationalists will jump up and down like they do. Supposedly, we in Canada can never use the word "Freeway" but most always use the word "Highway". Just like it's called Grade 12 here and not 12th Grade. Or one that relates more, we call it Queen St W, not W Queen St. (Can someone seriously tell me why we throw the directions on streets at the end) I know that's the case at least in Southern Ontario, but not sure about everywhere.

Also, to what extent would you like to resurrect the M-C signage? The problem I see, is that with the overlap of the Highway of Heroes signage, especially with the MTO's obsession with bilingualism, can you imagine seeing a sign assembly in the GTA with possibly 5 shields? (Hwy 401, Highway of Heroes, Autoroute des Heros, M-C Freeway, Autoroute M-C) Or would you rather have the M-C designation appear like those big blue signs at the 404 and Hwy 35/Hwy 115 interchange (I think) every so often along the route. If I recall, it's like this in Quebec, where you see the periodical BGS that says "Autoroute Jean Lesage". Another example that I see once a year is the "Miners Memorial Highway" Big Blue Sign on Hwy 104 at least twice in Nova Scotia.

Speaking of multiple names for Ontario freeways, any GPS or mapping program seems to name the Hamilton section of Hwy 403 as Chedoke Parkway, was there any real acknowledgement to this name on the road ever? Same goes for the Conestoga Parkway, which I'm not sure what the K-W residents call that freeway that's sometimes Highway 7, or Highway 8, or Highway 85. I personally use the term "Conestoga Parkway" myself, but I'm not sure if anyone knows what that term means, I really only learned it from the mapping programs. I also recall Microsoft Streets and Trips, back in the early 20-aughts (and possibly still on MapPoint), had Hwy 409 have a second name known as "Belfield Expressway", is there any proof of this too?

Also, could we please get a proper cosigning in Wellington County, of Hwy 401 and Hwy 6, it irks me that the Hwy 6 sign on the assembly is a trailblazer, with a "TO Hwy 6", when technically you are on Hwy 6. I believe the one with Hwy 410, which doesn't exist since legally since '97 decommissioning, and the Hwy 401/Hwy 6, are the only cosignings on 400 series highways that cosign with regular highways. But I could be wrong. On a side note, check out what they've done to the Hwy 410/Hwy 7, sign on Williams Parkway...you'd be in for a laugh if you understand the funny error they made.

jakeroot

Quote from: cbeach40 on March 26, 2015, 02:12:32 PM
Would you like to see the Macdonald-Cartier Freeway signed along Highway 401 in some way again? If so, please email me stating your support.

Are there any signs left? Like the "M-C Freeway" shields?

AsphaltPlanet

The last M-C shield stood out by the airport in Toronto, and came down about this time last year.
AsphaltPlanet.ca  Youtube -- Opinions expressed reflect the viewpoints of others.

cbeach40

Quote from: MisterSG1 on April 02, 2015, 12:29:35 AM
Oh, the public in Southern Ontario will be scared of that word that starts with "F",

Highway's already designated, it's a question of signs.

Quote from: MisterSG1 on April 02, 2015, 12:29:35 AM
the Canadian nationalists will jump up and down like they do. Supposedly, we in Canada can never use the word "Freeway" but most always use the word "Highway".

I'm sure that a road named after two Fathers of Confederation will make the nationalists very happy.


Quote from: MisterSG1 on April 02, 2015, 12:29:35 AM
Also, to what extent would you like to resurrect the M-C signage?

Depends on what is the best option in terms of cost-effectiveness and signing the designation fully. Right now I'm trying to guage and document public support for the concept.


Quote from: MisterSG1 on April 02, 2015, 12:29:35 AM
Speaking of multiple names for Ontario freeways, any GPS or mapping program seems to name the Hamilton section of Hwy 403 as Chedoke Parkway, was there any real acknowledgement to this name on the road ever?

No, in fact there's a movement afoot to name the 403 from Woodstock to Burlington for Alexander Graham Bell. Should that go through it would be the sole name on that section.

Quote from: MisterSG1 on April 02, 2015, 12:29:35 AM
Same goes for the Conestoga Parkway, which I'm not sure what the K-W residents call that freeway that's sometimes Highway 7, or Highway 8, or Highway 85. I personally use the term "Conestoga Parkway" myself, but I'm not sure if anyone knows what that term means, I really only learned it from the mapping programs.

Never designated, though it was municipally signed on the city streets as such back in the 70s.



Quote from: MisterSG1 on April 02, 2015, 12:29:35 AM
Also, could we please get a proper cosigning in Wellington County, of Hwy 401 and Hwy 6, it irks me that the Hwy 6 sign on the assembly is a trailblazer, with a "TO Hwy 6", when technically you are on Hwy 6. I believe the one with Hwy 410, which doesn't exist since legally since '97 decommissioning, and the Hwy 401/Hwy 6, are the only cosignings on 400 series highways that cosign with regular highways.

The Hwy 410/7 overlap survived the 1997-98 restructuring as the highway was retained by MTO to the west of 410. But then Peel Region request it be transferred so they could develop along it (and thankfully they did as it would be a mess today or costing taxpayers a lot to upgrade it - whereas a municipality can pass those upgrade costs on to the developers creating the traffic more easily). So that section was transferred in late 2001, and the 410/7 designation still exists for the time being.

Other 400-series co-designations include 400/12, 403/24, QEW/403, and kinda sorta not really but it functionally is 401/ECR and 401/3.
and waterrrrrrr!

rickmastfan67

Quote from: cbeach40 on April 07, 2015, 12:04:12 AM
The Hwy 410/7 overlap survived the 1997-98 restructuring as the highway was retained by MTO to the west of 410. But then Peel Region request it be transferred so they could develop along it (and thankfully they did as it would be a mess today or costing taxpayers a lot to upgrade it - whereas a municipality can pass those upgrade costs on to the developers creating the traffic more easily). So that section was transferred in late 2001, and the 410/7 designation still exists for the time being.

Is 7 signed with KH shields along 410?  If so, I need to add it to the CHM project when we're back in business.

AsphaltPlanet

^ There are a couple of remainder Hwy 7 shields along Hwy 410, but I am not sure if that'd be enough for me to include that section on a clinched hwy mapping site:



AsphaltPlanet.ca  Youtube -- Opinions expressed reflect the viewpoints of others.

cbeach40

Quote from: rickmastfan67 on April 07, 2015, 01:10:38 AM
Is 7 signed with KH shields along 410?  If so, I need to add it to the CHM project when we're back in business.

There are a smattering of signs, but if you tried to actually follow it through you'd lose it. And what is there is not long for this world.

and waterrrrrrr!

MisterSG1

Quote from: cbeach40 on April 07, 2015, 11:38:29 AM
Quote from: rickmastfan67 on April 07, 2015, 01:10:38 AM
Is 7 signed with KH shields along 410?  If so, I need to add it to the CHM project when we're back in business.

There are a smattering of signs, but if you tried to actually follow it through you'd lose it. And what is there is not long for this world.

It's only between two exits anyways, so even its heyday, there was at most, just 4 of those signs. On Highway 410 today, there is no mention of Hwy 7 anymore, but up until 2003-ish, I can recall that the sign on the Clark Boulevard exit gantry said something along the lines of this:

Hwy 7 EAST Queen St 1km
Hwy 7 WEST Bovaird Dr 5km

Also, I was mentioning earlier of the Williams Parkway onramp sign, the funny error they made.

https://goo.gl/maps/6Z6dI

Those of you keeping score know that Peel Region already has a Regional Road 7, it's Airport Road! What used to be Hwy 7 in Brampton is now Regional Road 107. Queen St west of Hwy 410 is Regional Road 6. Bovaird Dr east of Hwy 410 is Regional Road 10. I wonder how many citizens of this city even know this. The names Hwy 10, and Hwy 7 are still used by me as a millennial born person and by my friends who are not roadgeeks, I don't expect that to change in the future due to legality both highways still have. As we know Hwy 10 starts now just north of the Brampton city limits, and Hwy 7, well Provincial Hwy 7 starts west of the Brampton city limits, as for Vaughan. York Region officially named Hwy 7 "Highway 7", as it never had a name before, and why give it a special name, the locals know it as "Highway 7" so let's keep it that way.

rickmastfan67

Quote from: cbeach40 on April 07, 2015, 11:38:29 AM
Quote from: rickmastfan67 on April 07, 2015, 01:10:38 AM
Is 7 signed with KH shields along 410?  If so, I need to add it to the CHM project when we're back in business.

There are a smattering of signs, but if you tried to actually follow it through you'd lose it. And what is there is not long for this world.

But the point I'm trying to make here, is 7 still considered to be 'official' on 410 in the eyes of the MTO at this time (like how 69 was on 400 till the shields were removed)?

cbeach40

Next phase of the Hwy 407 extension is proceeding; completion of 407 to Hwy 418 by late 2017, completion of the balance of 418 southerly to Hwy 401 and completion easterly to Hwy 35/115 by late 2020.

http://news.ontario.ca/mto/en/2015/04/moving-forward-on-highway-407-east-1.html
and waterrrrrrr!

SignGeek101

Quote from: cbeach40 on April 12, 2015, 11:08:56 PM
Next phase of the Hwy 407 extension is proceeding; completion of 407 to Hwy 418 by late 2017, completion of the balance of 418 southerly to Hwy 401 and completion easterly to Hwy 35/115 by late 2020.

http://news.ontario.ca/mto/en/2015/04/moving-forward-on-highway-407-east-1.html

They are going to be done to Harmony Road by fall? That is farther east than I thought.
Good, the 407 will be extended to the 115 like I thought. May take off some of the Peterborough bound traffic off the 401. Hopefully the 412 opens on time. All I've seen of that is the old westbound lanes of the 401 being ripped up.


As well, for a different topic, more pictures have been posted of the Herb Gray Pkwy (401 in Windsor) here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/hgparkway/with/17088080811/

AsphaltPlanet

#315
A series of sign replacements have been undertaken during the winter this year in the GTA.  Here are some before and after photos of the work:

Hwy 401:

http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_401_images/401_dv_344_west_ramp_C_Mar15_24x16.jpg


http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_401_images/401_dv_344_west_ramp_C_Apr15_24x16.jpg



http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_401_images/401_dv_347-4_west_Sep11_C_24x16.jpg


http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_401_images/401_dv_347-4_west_Apr15_C_24x16.jpg



http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_401_images/401_dv_346_west_C_Jun13_24x16.jpg


http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_401_images/401_dv_346_west_C_Apr15_24x16.jpg



http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_401_images/401_dv_375_east_E_Aug12_24x16.jpg


http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_401_images/401_dv_375_east_E_Mar15_24x16.jpg



http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_401_images/401_dv_375-5_west_E_lg.jpg


http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_401_images/401_dv_375-5_west_E_Apr15_24x16.jpg



http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_401_images/401_dv_376_west_E_lg.jpg


http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_401_images/401_dv_376_west_E_Apr15_24x16.jpg



Hwy 404:


http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_404-406_images/404_dv_26-5_north_Aug13_24x16.jpg


http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_404-406_images/404_dv_26-5_north_Mar15_24x16.jpg



Hwy 406:


http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_404-406_images/406_dv_9_south_Jul11_24x16.jpg


http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_404-406_images/406_dv_9_south_Apr15_24x16.jpg



http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_404-406_images/406_dv_9-6_south_Jul11_24x16.jpg


http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_404-406_images/406_dv_9-5_south_Apr15_24x16.jpg



http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_404-406_images/406_dv_11-75_north_Jul11_24x16.jpg


http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_404-406_images/406_dv_10-5_north_Apr15_24x16.jpg



QEW:


http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/QEW_images/QEW_dv_97_FEB_Oct10_24x16.jpg


http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/QEW_images/QEW_dv_97_FEB_Apr15_24x16.jpg



http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/QEW_images/QEW_dv_99-5_Oct10_TB_24x16.jpg


http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/QEW_images/QEW_dv_99-5_TB_Apr15_24x16.jpg
AsphaltPlanet.ca  Youtube -- Opinions expressed reflect the viewpoints of others.

SignGeek101

Quote from: AsphaltPlanet on April 19, 2015, 02:09:29 PM
A series of sign replacements have been undertaken during the winter this year in the GTA.  Here are some before and after photos of the work:


http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/QEW_images/QEW_dv_99-5_Oct10_TB_24x16.jpg


http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/QEW_images/QEW_dv_99-5_TB_Apr15_24x16.jpg

It's not everyday you see Clearview replaced with FHWA. Most of the signs replaced are nearly identical to their older counterparts. Yet, I find the old signs better in some way. Not a fan of the control city smaller than the other text either. Nice pics.

Brandon

Quote from: AsphaltPlanet on April 19, 2015, 02:09:29 PM
A series of sign replacements have been undertaken during the winter this year in the GTA.  Here are some before and after photos of the work:

Hwy 404:


http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_404-406_images/404_dv_26-5_north_Aug13_24x16.jpg


http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_404-406_images/404_dv_26-5_north_Mar15_24x16.jpg

Nothing like the Ministry of Redundancy Ministry.
"If you think this has a happy ending, you haven't been paying attention." - Ramsay Bolton

"Symbolic of his struggle against reality." - Reg

SignGeek101

Quote from: Brandon on April 21, 2015, 03:18:03 PM
Quote from: AsphaltPlanet on April 19, 2015, 02:09:29 PM
A series of sign replacements have been undertaken during the winter this year in the GTA.  Here are some before and after photos of the work:

Hwy 404:


http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_404-406_images/404_dv_26-5_north_Aug13_24x16.jpg


http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_404-406_images/404_dv_26-5_north_Mar15_24x16.jpg

Nothing like the Ministry of Redundancy Ministry.

Typical Ontario, unfortunately. Here is another one close by: http://goo.gl/maps/mkAfc


Also, this kind of bugs me: http://goo.gl/maps/U6meH

That exit leads to County (Simcoe in this case) 89 and ON 89, but the MTO doesn't put a county shield.

AsphaltPlanet

Quote from: Brandon on April 21, 2015, 03:18:03 PM
Quote from: AsphaltPlanet on April 19, 2015, 02:09:29 PM
A series of sign replacements have been undertaken during the winter this year in the GTA.  Here are some before and after photos of the work:

Hwy 404:


http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_404-406_images/404_dv_26-5_north_Aug13_24x16.jpg


http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_404-406_images/404_dv_26-5_north_Mar15_24x16.jpg

Nothing like the Ministry of Redundancy Ministry.

I wouldn't say this sign is redundant.  In this case, Regional Road 7 is named Highway 7.  In this example, it is signed as it should be.
AsphaltPlanet.ca  Youtube -- Opinions expressed reflect the viewpoints of others.

Brandon

Quote from: AsphaltPlanet on April 22, 2015, 08:02:16 AM
I wouldn't say this sign is redundant.  In this case, Regional Road 7 is named Highway 7.  In this example, it is signed as it should be.

What if I changed it to {401} Highway 401?  Or {55} Interstate 55?  It very much is redundant to have a shield stating the route number and then repeating it with the text right afterward.
"If you think this has a happy ending, you haven't been paying attention." - Ramsay Bolton

"Symbolic of his struggle against reality." - Reg

cbeach40

Quote from: Brandon on April 22, 2015, 09:57:02 AM
What if I changed it to {401} Highway 401?  Or {55} Interstate 55?  It very much is redundant to have a shield stating the route number and then repeating it with the text right afterward.

No, it's the route number and the road name, two separate entities. See the RR-4 Dixie Road sign above, same situation.
and waterrrrrrr!

AsphaltPlanet

#322
Quote from: Brandon on April 22, 2015, 09:57:02 AM
Quote from: AsphaltPlanet on April 22, 2015, 08:02:16 AM
I wouldn't say this sign is redundant.  In this case, Regional Road 7 is named Highway 7.  In this example, it is signed as it should be.

What if I changed it to {401} Highway 401?  Or {55} Interstate 55?  It very much is redundant to have a shield stating the route number and then repeating it with the text right afterward.

Perhaps you aren't familiar with Ontario's route classification system.  The \7/ refers to regional (or county) road.  In this case, York Regional Road 7 is also named Highway 7.  A regional road shield, often dubbed a flowerpot by roadgeeks (\_/) is not synonymous with a road being a highway.  If it was named and signed as "\7/ York Road 7" than it could be considered redundant.
AsphaltPlanet.ca  Youtube -- Opinions expressed reflect the viewpoints of others.

MisterSG1

Sometimes I wonder how many citizens around here even understand the Regional Road system at all. Concurrency is a concept that growing up at least in my case, no one seemed to understand. There were many that called Queen Street in Brampton, Highway 7, and Bovaird Drive as Highway 7 as well. While technically right, they couldn't wrap their head around Hwy 410 and Hwy 7 being a concurrency. Thus it was frustrating to hear of for instance in my days, Torbram of Bovaird being incorrectly referred to as Torbram and Hwy 7.

Speaking of Highway 7 in Brampton, what was the route of Highway 7 is known now as Regional Road 107, as Regional Road 7 was already taken, it is Airport Road.

As for redundancy, if we still had our highway system intact, and it said (CROWN 7) Highway 7, indeed that is very redundant. In York Region, this thoroughfare never had any previous names, and the locals always called it "Highway 7". A simple (FLOWERPOT 7) wouldn't have done the trick, at least in my eyes.

Thinking about this, I've noticed there are inconsistencies in how the powers that be in our province handle these kind of downloaded situations. Let us look at exit 320 in Milton, where the Maplehurst Jail is, people in the media years still refer to this as Highway 25, but that's besides the point. Anyways, notice that exit is simply signed (FLOWERPOT 25) with three control cities, I'd prefer if the name of that street "Martin St" was on that sign. In rural areas, I think just a route number is fine, but in suburban/urban areas it can be somewhat frustrating. But this happens outside of the province as well, a major thoroughfare in Greater Buffalo for example is signed on the Thruway as NY 78, when I assume that "Transit Road" may be what the locals there call it. I know if you look up an address there, you get told it is on transit road and not Highway/Route 78.

So why is it, when we get to other areas of the province, even in spots with downloaded roads, that we sometimes have words instead of flowerpots. I'm referring to exit 328 in Woodstock now, where I believe the sign says "Oxford Road 2". So why doesn't the sign in Milton say "Halton Road 25", or that sign in Woodstock say (FLOWERPOT 2). Could it be that Oxford County does not use the flowerpots at all? I would like to know if possible please.

If I had my way, even though the highways don't legally exist as provincial entities, I wouldn't have destroyed the long established highway numbers that even us millennials, who some of us were single digit age at the time of downloading refer to the downloaded roads as. But oh well, that's how things go.

cbeach40

Quote from: MisterSG1 on April 22, 2015, 02:33:48 PM
So why is it, when we get to other areas of the province, even in spots with downloaded roads, that we sometimes have words instead of flowerpots. I'm referring to exit 328 in Woodstock now, where I believe the sign says "Oxford Road 2". So why doesn't the sign in Milton say "Halton Road 25", or that sign in Woodstock say (FLOWERPOT 2). Could it be that Oxford County does not use the flowerpots at all? I would like to know if possible please.

The reason being that the exit signs are retrofits of the existing signs - ie, underneath the flowerpot the crown is still there. When the signs get fully replaced they would say "Halton Road 25" or "\25/ Martin Street" or whatever the municipality wants it to be called.


Quote from: MisterSG1 on April 22, 2015, 02:33:48 PM
If I had my way, even though the highways don't legally exist as provincial entities, I wouldn't have destroyed the long established highway numbers that even us millennials, who some of us were single digit age at the time of downloading refer to the downloaded roads as. But oh well, that's how things go.

There were 65 instances where the numbering was maintained, 39 where the routing/numbering was improved (either by rerouting highways, like with Hwy 65 at New Liskeard, or incorporating it into the local network like Hwy 51 becoming CR-15 at Rondeau) so that actually improved consistency and better reflected traffic patterns, and 9 where numerical changes could cause an issue to an inattentive driver.

Sure, it seems out of place given knowledge of the highway history, but that old chestnut about the 90s restructuring being so very disruptive is not backed up empirically.
and waterrrrrrr!



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