Roads: Ontario/GTA Highways Discussion

[drum118]

I know it's still under construction but the new dixie off/on ramp configuration is horrible.

Going south on Dixie to the highway You've gone from 0 lights to 3!
Even better is that they are out of sync, so cars get stuck and the turn arrow is usually wasted

There are roads in Peel under Peel traffic Management that operate opposite to Mississauga management. As for Dixie new QEW interchange, you have 2 new sets of lights to deal with traffic exiting and entering the QEW as well the East South Service Roads. The other Service Rd has an extra light for the mall exit and a poor design there. It may disappear once the mall is redevelop and that at least 20 years down the road.

Traffic management sucks in Mississauga as its on a time system, not traffic volume. You think its bad for drivers, try crossing those intersections as a pedestrian as it worse, especially Hurontario or Erin Mills.

The real problem is lack of traffic enforcement to the point today drivers don't obeyed the rules of the road that leads to more aggressive driving and putting everyone at risk of been hit. 70% of today drivers should not hold a license to drive and that starts with MTO poor testing starting with drivers not been tested in real traffic, but in a parking lot. How many DWI drivers are found driving that have suspended license, no license or insurance??

Just stand at various intersections to see illegal right hand turns on a red light, pull a U-turn, run the red light and so on as they know their chance of being caught is next to zero. Speeding is common on all streets and been pasted by drivers doing close to 100 in a 50 zone, let a lone school zone.

 

[RapidTransit]

I'm quoting someone else from a while ago talking about highway 7 but apparently the explanation they got was that constant greens leads to more speeding, though I feel like they totally ignored how hitting every single red will make people more aggressive in turn.

Setting up drivers to be agitated then turn around and punish them red lights and speed cameras.

I'm all for safety, but there also needs to be a focus on flow of traffic. Especially at night.

If your on a stretch of road and doing the speed limit, let's say 50k/m, then the lights will change accordingly. If you speed you'll hit a red. That's reasonable.

 

[Sunnyside]

Setting up drivers to be agitated then turn around and punish them red lights and speed cameras.

I'm all for safety, but there also needs to be a focus on flow of traffic. Especially at night.

If your on a stretch of road and doing the speed limit, let's say 50k/m, then the lights will change accordingly. If you speed you'll hit a red. That's reasonable.

Not an expert, but this is how Hamilton’s one ways, namely King and Main, work(ed). I don’t think it’s possible to really do this without one-ways however, as the added conflicts of two-way streets basically preclude synchronization. In my case that’s for the better, but not so in suburban areas.

I will echo that it feels like you hit every red light, especially at major arterials, in Toronto, York, and Mississauga. But I do chalk this up to too many cars on the roads in most cases- when volumes are super high, you can only really prioritize safety or basic functionality, less so speed/efficiency…

 

[turbanplanner]

Not an expert, but this is how Hamilton’s one ways, namely King and Main, work(ed). I don’t think it’s possible to really do this without one-ways however, as the added conflicts of two-way streets basically preclude synchronization. In my case that’s for the better, but not so in suburban areas.

I will echo that it feels like you hit every red light, especially at major arterials, in Toronto, York, and Mississauga. But I do chalk this up to too many cars on the roads in most cases- when volumes are super high, you can only really prioritize safety or basic functionality, less so speed/efficiency…

Even one way streets in Toronto aren't timed well!

 

[lenaitch]

Not an expert, but this is how Hamilton’s one ways, namely King and Main, work(ed). I don’t think it’s possible to really do this without one-ways however, as the added conflicts of two-way streets basically preclude synchronization. In my case that’s for the better, but not so in suburban areas.

I will echo that it feels like you hit every red light, especially at major arterials, in Toronto, York, and Mississauga. But I do chalk this up to too many cars on the roads in most cases- when volumes are super high, you can only really prioritize safety or basic functionality, less so speed/efficiency…

That's the way some major Toronto roads used to be, at least at night. If you did the limit and there were no triggers from cross streets, you could hit all greens. I used to do night deliveries way back when and could cruise down Yonge St with nary a red light.

 

[Dan416]

There are roads in Peel under Peel traffic Management that operate opposite to Mississauga management. As for Dixie new QEW interchange, you have 2 new sets of lights to deal with traffic exiting and entering the QEW as well the East South Service Roads. The other Service Rd has an extra light for the mall exit and a poor design there. It may disappear once the mall is redevelop and that at least 20 years down the road.

Traffic management sucks in Mississauga as its on a time system, not traffic volume. You think its bad for drivers, try crossing those intersections as a pedestrian as it worse, especially Hurontario or Erin Mills.

The real problem is lack of traffic enforcement to the point today drivers don't obeyed the rules of the road that leads to more aggressive driving and putting everyone at risk of been hit. 70% of today drivers should not hold a license to drive and that starts with MTO poor testing starting with drivers not been tested in real traffic, but in a parking lot. How many DWI drivers are found driving that have suspended license, no license or insurance??

Just stand at various intersections to see illegal right hand turns on a red light, pull a U-turn, run the red light and so on as they know their chance of being caught is next to zero. Speeding is common on all streets and been pasted by drivers doing close to 100 in a 50 zone, let a lone school zone.

At least as of 2026 all Peel roads in Mississauga will fall under city jurisdiction instead. But I'm not sure if Mississauga is better or worse than Peel at managing signals. I honestly think they're both atrocious.

I have noticed the leading pedestrian lights at a lot of intersections in Mississauga, but they always seem to be enabled where there's zero pedestrians and just there to aggravate drivers. I usually drive around at night, and how many pedestrians are there at say Burnhamthorpe and Wolfedale at 12 midnight? I think it was around there anyway. But there's countless examples. So the rare time I drive these days, it's extremely frustrating.

 

[Transportfan]

At least as of 2026 all Peel roads in Mississauga will fall under city jurisdiction instead.

Peel is turning over its roads to the city? If so, it's about time to de-number them.

 

[Dan416]

Peel is turning over its roads to the city? If so, it's about time to de-number them.

Yes here's the Region's update:

Provincial review update - peelregion.ca

peelregion.ca

On December 12, the Ontario government introduced the Bill 240, Peel Transition Implementation Act, 2024 which, if passed, would transfer the delivery of some Public Works services from Peel Region to Brampton, Caledon, and Mississauga.

The proposed changes include transferring jurisdiction and responsibility for the following services, effective July 1, 2026, or as determined by the Minister:

• Regional roads and associated stormwater infrastructure, including ownership and maintenance responsibilities, from Peel Region to Brampton, Caledon, and Mississauga.
• Waste collection services and two community recycling centres located in Mississauga from Peel Region to the City of Mississauga.

For more information, refer to Peel Region Council Report: Proposed Bill 240 – Peel Transition Implementation Act (January 9, 2025).

The Ontario government is continuing to explore potential options for the transfer of water and wastewater services from Peel Region noting that any future outcome would maintain public ownership.

I don't see these little-used regional road numbers surviving in any shape or form. No one knows them now, it would be a simple matter of just removing the Peel Region trailblazer signs, as none of the municipal street signs actually reference them, although the regional signs do.

 

[turbanplanner]

At least as of 2026 all Peel roads in Mississauga will fall under city jurisdiction instead. But I'm not sure if Mississauga is better or worse than Peel at managing signals. I honestly think they're both atrocious.

I have noticed the leading pedestrian lights at a lot of intersections in Mississauga, but they always seem to be enabled where there's zero pedestrians and just there to aggravate drivers. I usually drive around at night, and how many pedestrians are there at say Burnhamthorpe and Wolfedale at 12 midnight? I think it was around there anyway. But there's countless examples. So the rare time I drive these days, it's extremely frustrating.

Makes about as much sense as banning right turns on reds 24/7 near Kipling station instead of making it during "normal" hours near yorkdale

 

[bearcat]

Makes about as much sense as banning right turns on reds 24/7 near Kipling station instead of making it during "normal" hours near yorkdale

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The Kipling no right on red is there because there is a bike box for left turn https://maps.app.goo.gl/MF6f9ZSMSrgYjQsf9 so it makes perfect sense to me that it's effective 24/7. The one at Marlee and Lawrence is there presumably to manage traffic flow, so it makes sense the restrictions only apply to rush hour times when the streets are the busiest

These right on red restrictions are there for different reasons so it makes to me why the times they apply are different.

 

[turbanplanner]

The Kipling no right on red is there because there is a bike box for left turn https://maps.app.goo.gl/MF6f9ZSMSrgYjQsf9 so it makes perfect sense to me that it's effective 24/7. The one at Marlee and Lawrence is there presumably to manage traffic flow, so it makes sense the restrictions only apply to rush hour times when the streets are the busiest

These right on red restrictions are there for different reasons so it makes to me why the times they apply are different.

As someone who lives there I've seen a handful of bikes since the lanes came, and 0 at the wee hours of the night. Feels silly to inconvenience thousands of people per day. OTOH I see little reason for the city to change it as there are drivers pulled over almost every time I pass by (for "running" the red)

 

[bearcat]

As someone who lives there I've seen a handful of bikes since the lanes came, and 0 at the wee hours of the night. Feels silly to inconvenience thousands of people per day. OTOH I see little reason for the city to change it as there are drivers pulled over almost every time I pass by (for "running" the red)

Well at this particular intersection you can just do this and not inconvenience yourself:

Also this bike infrastructure had been disconnected from the bike network completely until last year, and is still disconnected going North, South and West. This area is also has a lot of "empty" land that has yet to be redeveloped after the "spaghetti" junction was removed. I am not surprised there is not many people cycling here.

You are right though in a way, I think there should be a law EXPLICITLY saying you can't turn right on red IF there is a bicycle in the bike box with heavy fines for breaking the law. Until there is, a blanket no right on red is the only solution.

Otherwise you get people driving yelling at those cycling for using the bike box like this:

https://www.reddit.com/r/torontobiking/comments/1hzfjp3/help_with_bike_box_usage

 

[ericmacm]

Essex County is apparently asking Ontario to contribute funding to build 2 new interchanges on E.C. Row/CR 22 at Lesperance Road and Manning Road, similar to what the City of Windsor did for the proposed interchange at Banwell Road just west of these intersections. Each is estimated to be a $100M+ project. They will likely cost more than the Banwell Road interchange since land will need to be purchased.

This area in Tecumseh has grown significantly over the past few years (I just drove through it before the holidays and the scale of change is staggering) and the existing lights apparently can’t handle the traffic load anymore.

 

[innsertnamehere]

Does Lesperance Road really need an interchange? It's quite close to Manning and Banwell. I feel like it would just be better off as an overpass.

Regardless, extension of EC Row is a reasonable ask, I think.

I do wonder some times how much money Ford is prioritizing in SW Ontario compared to the rest of the province though, considering SW Ontario's transportation system is generally in far, far better shape than the rest of the province.

 

[nfitz]

I've always wondered why that expressway is there - but I don't drive on it. What kind of AADT does it have? It surely can't be on par with the Hanlon. Or even something like Erin Mills.