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Primarily it is because the bridges through Milton are quite old and need replacement soon. So they're replacing the bridges with wider ones because of that but also because they expect the 401 to be much wider through that in the future. The contract to extend the collector/express to Milton is not too far off. It could be out as early as 2018 spring. Keep in mind though that not all the bridges being widened will see collector/express passing through them. The express collector will extend to RR 25 and then it should narrow down to 10 lanes west of that. The any widening west of RR 25 will probably be a separate contract though.

Here's an somewhat old article that I found on this: http://www.insidehalton.com/news-story/2...ing-plans/
So, the bridges will not have 6 lanes, they will have 6 lanes with either 2 or 4 "unused" areas for future lanes?  That's what we're asking.

RR25... had to look it up (I only think in exit numbers Big Grin - Exit 320). Why would they extend the Express/Collector system out this far? There's a 6 kilometre gap between 330 (407) and 324 (James Snow). Express/Collector systems are only really useful when a) you have a group of lanes too great to span reasonably with a bridge and need a column (which I believe is the only reason the Conestoga Parkway has them between Bruce/Edna and Wellington - technology at the time and/or cost dictated they needed columns, so there had to be a barrier, so there had to be a split), or b) have lots of exits close together.
I can see the bridgework at Line 5 being used shortly, but widening around Appleby Line and Campbell Ave west of Milton has got to be quite a long way off still. I just have a vision of them building these new wider bridge decks and then having to replace them again before the widening is ever completed.
(01-28-2017, 06:59 AM)Canard Wrote: [ -> ]So, the bridges will not have 6 lanes, they will have 6 lanes with either 2 or 4 "unused" areas for future lanes?  That's what we're asking.

RR25... had to look it up (I only think in exit numbers Big Grin - Exit 320).  Why would they extend the Express/Collector system out this far?  There's a 6 kilometre gap between 330 (407) and 324 (James Snow).  Express/Collector systems are only really useful when a) you have a group of lanes too great to span reasonably with a bridge and need a column (which I believe is the only reason the Conestoga Parkway has them between Bruce/Edna and Wellington - technology at the time and/or cost dictated they needed columns, so there had to be a barrier, so there had to be a split), or b) have lots of exits close together.

Whether the lanes will be unused is purely speculation, but yes that's what I'd think.  Until the collector express extends to Milton and the widening from Milton westward happens, I'd think the widened bridges will have several unused lanes.


The gap in the planned express collector is due to the 407 interchange in Mississauga, which can only accommodate 10 lanes for the 401 at this time.  But I don't believe that part of the design been finalized yet either.  We might see a 3-stack interchange at 407 that will accommodate express collector through that interchage, but it's still too early to say.  The 427 and 401 interchange has the same problem, which is why there's a 5 km gap, so it's not unprecedented to have a gap in express collectors.

As for why it's express collector and not just straight up 12 lanes, I am not sure of that.
(01-28-2017, 06:59 AM)Canard Wrote: [ -> ](...) or b) have lots of exits close together.

From Mississauga Road to RR25 in Milton, the exits average 3 km (or about 100 seconds of driving time) apart, so they really still are quite close.

From RR25 to Townline Road, the average gap is over 8 km, a substantial difference.
Saw these poles and cases strapped to the traffic signals the other day.  At the top of the pole (sorry, I cut it out of the picture), it looks like possibly a camera? There was one at University/Westmount and another at University/Seagram.  Anyone know?

[attachment=3138]

Coke
That is a Miovision traffic counter.
There is also one at University and Albert.
They put one of those on my street last year for a few weeks.  Interesting system to be sure.  Very easy to deploy.  I am hoping it is able to count parking too maybe?  Otherwise seems limited advantage over the classic pneumatic tube counters at least on a residential street.  There is perhaps quite a bit more it could tell you at an intersection.
I believe they count all the movements at an intersection, and can also do bicycles. Pneumatic tunes only catch a screenline, and don't give you turning info.
(02-01-2017, 04:46 PM)Coke6pk Wrote: [ -> ]Saw these poles and cases strapped to the traffic signals the other day.  At the top of the pole (sorry, I cut it out of the picture), it looks like possibly a camera? There was one at University/Westmount and another at University/Seagram.  Anyone know?



Coke

Do they all come with a guy guarding the boxes? See original picture
(02-02-2017, 11:23 PM)MacBerry Wrote: [ -> ]
(02-01-2017, 04:46 PM)Coke6pk Wrote: [ -> ]Saw these poles and cases strapped to the traffic signals the other day.  At the top of the pole (sorry, I cut it out of the picture), it looks like possibly a camera? There was one at University/Westmount and another at University/Seagram.  Anyone know?



Coke

Do they all come with a guy guarding the boxes? See original picture

Yes.  And it's the same guy at all intersections! Smile

Coke
City to spend $900K sprucing up ‘tired’ section of Queen Street - The Record

I wonder if this will include a re-do (somehow?) of the problematic corner at Charles/Queen.
(02-07-2017, 01:20 PM)Canard Wrote: [ -> ]City to spend $900K sprucing up ‘tired’ section of Queen Street - The Record

I wonder if this will include a re-do (somehow?) of the problematic corner at Charles/Queen.

Discussion already underway here:
http://www.waterlooregionconnected.com/s...4#pid32284
A member of the Alpine NA had a recent meeting with the Region in regards to the specific process of the roundabout construction on Ottawa this summer: http://alpine-cna.blogspot.ca/2017/02/yo...about.html

In short, a temporary replacement for Ottawa will be built just north of the current road and will carry traffic from May to August while the roundabouts are built. Access from the south will be cut off; traffic will be detoured down Strasburg and Courtland to Block Line. The new roundabouts will open in September. Presumably they then need to remove the temporary road and do other updates to the landscape.