Roads: Ontario/GTA Highways Discussion

[BurlOak]

OPP are saying a vehicle left the westbound lanes and collided with vehicles travelling eastbound. Across the median?

Not based on this video. The TL-5 Ontario Tall wall saves the day (to some degree).

Edit - language (in case there are kids). Also, looking at a bigger screen, the truck did jump over the barrier (not through).

 

[Neutrino]

Yeah that's what I was thinking

 

[innsertnamehere]

Not based on this video. The TL-5 Ontario Tall wall saves the day (to some degree).

Edit - language (in case there are kids). Also, looking at a bigger screen, the truck did jump over the barrier (not through).

Crazy how the barrier looked completely undamaged, only marks from the truck tires. Even with a fully loaded tanker truck barreling towards it at 110km/h..

I feel like it is unusual to see an accident this bad on the 407 too. I find the highway to generally be far and away safer than any other highway in the city, even despite its much higher typical speeds.

 

[steveintoronto]

I've to to say that the OPP handling of the media, in terms of keeping them abreast of what's known and what isn't, is first rate. OPP spokespersons are as aghast as we observers are, but being meticulously careful in how they describe the events they know.

Agreed with @BurlOak , the barrier must have absorbed a huge amount of the energy resulting in the truck tipping over the barrier, rather than proceeding straight through. As awful as two lives lost is, it could have been a hell of a lot worse.

 

[drum118]

This is an example that the barriers are still too low and need to be another foot or so higher.

It is also an example what can happen if more of these trucks are on the highway, not in tank cars on the RR since people don't want them going by their backyards or what. Still need these trucks for local deliveries.

Now think what the 401 would look like if that had happen there. More than 2 lives would be lost and create one hell of a gridlock.

 

[W. K. Lis]

Crazy how the barrier looked completely undamaged, only marks from the truck tires. Even with a fully loaded tanker truck barreling towards it at 110km/h..

I feel like it is unusual to see an accident this bad on the 407 too. I find the highway to generally be far and away safer than any other highway in the city, even despite its much higher typical speeds.

On CITY-TV news, they showed that the concrete had broken off and crumbled into pellets from the heat. They will have to replace the concrete barriers.

 

[BurlOak]

On CITY-TV news, they showed that the concrete had broken off and crumbled into pellets from the heat. They will have to replace the concrete barriers.

Insertname was commenting on the collision damage. City TV is referring to the fire damage that occurred farther downstream.

 

[BurlOak]

This is an example that the barriers are still too low and need to be another foot or so higher..

Those barriers are 1050mm high and meet the TL-5 loading requirements. That being said, the fuel truck does have a higher centre of gravity and is more likely to roll over. Also, the "safety shape" barrier (New Jersey) is a bit more prone to roll overs, but causes less damage to vehicles in typical collisions.
There is a 1400mm high barrier in the USA, but it is typically used only in advance of a bridge pier and not continuous along the road.

It is also an example what can happen if more of these trucks are on the highway, not in tank cars on the RR since people don't want them going by their backyards or what. Still need these trucks for local deliveries.

Now think what the 401 would look like if that had happen there. More than 2 lives would be lost and create one hell of a gridlock.

If only we would move more oil by pipeline instead of rail and truck (although this type of truck would have likely been on the road either way.

 

[steveintoronto]

Insertname was commenting on the collision damage. City TV is referring to the fire damage that occurred farther downstream.

Crazy how the barrier looked completely undamaged, only marks from the truck tires.

The concrete "exploded" onto the eastbound lane from the heat. There was none from the collision. This was made as a point in one of the vids on it, with closeups:
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=highway+407

See:

@ 3:39 and on

 

[W. K. Lis]

There were no fire hydrants close to the scene, which meant the fire trucks had to transport water from elsewhere to help put the fire out.

 

[Woodbridge_Heights]

Looks like the truck was in the second lane from the middle lane, locked up it's brakes and jack knifed into the barrier.

 

[darth_freeman]

This is an example that the barriers are still too low and need to be another foot or so higher.

It is also an example what can happen if more of these trucks are on the highway, not in tank cars on the RR since people don't want them going by their backyards or what. Still need these trucks for local deliveries.

Now think what the 401 would look like if that had happen there. More than 2 lives would be lost and create one hell of a gridlock.

It's simply would not be cost effective to do so. This median barrier is used on all 400 series freeways (400, 401, 427, 404, QEW, etc).

 

[darth_freeman]

Gardiner was closed this weekend. Found these shots of some of the work being done on Linkedin.

 

[drum118]

It's simply would not be cost effective to do so. This median barrier is used on all 400 series freeways (400, 401, 427, 404, QEW, etc).

If you look at the US barriers, they are moving to the high one and as well blocking the headlights of on coming traffic.

Ask the folks west of London what they think about lack of barriers and the new style that seen numerous lives lost or injured over the decades.

Safety has to come first regardless of cost and it make no different what highways that the current barriers are on. Today barriers are higher than the ones before them that were replace over time.

One person who was kill last week could be alive if the higher barrier existed then. Seen too many cases where the barrier has taken out or vehicles gone over them to say they are a poor design.

 

[darth_freeman]

One person who was kill last week could be alive if the higher barrier existed then. Seen too many cases where the barrier has taken out or vehicles gone over them to say they are a poor design.

That's not how engineering works though. You can't over design everything because it would be too expensive. Governments can't afford it. There are diminishing returns by spending more money.