Roads: Ontario/GTA Highways Discussion

[innsertnamehere]

407 occasionally publishes total daily users of the entire highway - last I heard, it stood around 400,000 - but not AADTs on individual stretches. I suspect the busiest stretch sits somewhere around 1/3 that.

 

[Leo_Chan]

Aerial view of Highway 404 Midblock crossing north of 16th Avenue.

Video from York Region on November 5, 2024:

Additional photos from Fall Update:

 

[Morriston1986]

I have been looking for information on the funding or potential funding of the hwy6 Morriston bypass or widening of the 401 from Milton to Townline. Can anyone shed any light on those projects? Thank you

 

[innsertnamehere]

It's "Funded" but appears to be getting slow-walked.

MTO just completed the first phase of it with the new interchange on the Hanlon, which is a part of the larger project. No word on when the next part will begin construction.

 

[Morriston1986]

Understood, I was hoping someone like yourself may ha e some knowledge on an upcoming tender bidding etc

 

[innsertnamehere]

My theory is that MTO has basically an all-hands-on deck approach to getting the 413 to tender right now which means a lot of other files are getting slow-walked - but I have no inside knowledge.

 

[turbanplanner]

Maybe I'm just imagining it but I noticed out of all the 400 series off ramps in the GTA, the only ones that will change within 10-15 seconds of a single car arriving are the 407 exits.

I'll see 1 car show and within 10 seconds the cross traffic turns red, I've noticed this on 6 or 7 different ramps during all times of day.

 

[ShonTron]

My theory is that MTO has basically an all-hands-on deck approach to getting the 413 to tender right now which means a lot of other files are getting slow-walked - but I have no inside knowledge.

Like all the projects forever in the “work started but not really” column, like Highway 7 New, or the next phase of Highway 69.

 

[Morriston1986]

I always believed 413 would get shut down due to environmental agencies

 

[ericmacm]

Drove past the HWY 401 Colonel Talbot/Glanworth project on a trip down to Windsor yesterday. Median mast lighting poles have been installed for this stretch but are not yet active. The steel for the new Glanworth Drive overpass has been installed, but the road deck, rest of the bridge finishes, and new road alignment/approach grading all still needs to be completed. The columns for the new Colonel Talbot Road overpass have been poured and some on-ramps have been closed, but not much has happened on this portion yet. I also noticed that in Chatham, some new overhead signs were installed to provide information for border crossing delays. The province was using temporary signs on the side of the road for some time, but it now appears they have moved to permanent signs. I have some images from my dashcam:

 

[Jonny5]

Headlights seem a lot brighter these days — because they are​

Light glare that's dazzling today's drivers can create a dangerous distraction on the road, experts say​

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/headlights-led-driving-safety-night-1.7409099

I have very much noticed this in recent years. There's a parking lot about half a kilometre away from me and the headlights of some vehicles at night are so bright they can illuminate my apartment on the sixth floor, even from that distance.
On some of the rare times I drive out in rural areas it can be blinding when suddenly there's a car with ultra-blue/white LED headlights passing by you.

 

[drum118]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/headlights-led-driving-safety-night-1.7409099

I have very much noticed this in recent years. There's a parking lot about half a kilometre away from me and the headlights of some vehicles at night are so bright they can illuminate my apartment on the sixth floor, even from that distance.
On some of the rare times I drive out in rural areas it can be blinding when suddenly there's a car with ultra-blue/white LED headlights passing by you.

It is one reason why I have called for higher barriers to reduced the glare of headlights like they been doing in the US for a long time. Some of those headlights are very bright that I have to either turn my head or put my hand over my eyes which is not great when doing 120km in Canada.

 

[Undead]

Yes, headlights have gotten very bright. The glare is worse for sedans because there are so many high riding SUVs whose headlights are level with your mirrors and windows.

But car safety regs/testing is slowly catching up. The IIHS now tests headlights for glare, among other things.

And it's having an effect: I remember a late model Macan was behind me and the lights weren't blinding at all.

 

[nfitz]

And it's having an effect: I remember a late model Macan was behind me and the lights weren't blinding at all.

I'd think the manufacturers are realising they are heading towards a recall - so should be keen to fix the problem.

I'm not sure why they can't change the colour as well - that's part of the problem I think.

 

[Coolibop]

Problem is the aftermarket world and its enforcement. Already there are drivers with illegal plate covers/placement, illegal illuminating/flashing lights (especially on motorcycles), heck even drivers driving around with high beams. Unless you're caught red-handed breaking a second law, I would imagine many get away with it.

I would guess there are many who do not understand the concept of properly projecting your lights when purchasing said aftermarket products: adjusting the beam so it does not blind drivers....in addition with products that don't make any mention of how to adjust...

It's good they are looking at it, but there will probably be years of uneasy driving until the old stuff phases out...

...


Either that or we're all getting older. Night driving is much different these days...

Edit: I forgot to add, the way we illuminate our roads has a play in this too... If it's raining + nighttime, good luck seeing the painted lines using an older style bulb... I have found many stretches on the 401 quite bad compared to other jurisdictions where reflectors/lighting are used...but again, maybe related to my age....