I've been working on some maps of what my idea of a complete freeway build-out in some Ontario cities might look like. I have started out with Sudbury and Thunder Bay. These maps incorporate a combination information from the existing road networks, proposed road/interchange projects from EA documents, and some of my own ideas. My goal here is to also come up with solutions that produce the least property impacts possible and utilizing existing roadway corridors.
Thunder Bay
This concept envisions a full grade-separated freeway network along the current alignments of HWY 11/17 and HWY 61 through the Thunder Bay area. There isn't much that is different from what currently exists, and most changes here are the addition of interchanges along the corridor. Everything in the network would be twinned to a freeway standard. This also includes new road realignments, service roads, and connecting roads. Interchange locations (15) are as follows:
- HWY 11/17 and Spruce River Road (conceptual)
- HWY 11/17 and Hodder Avenue (existing)
- HWY 11/17 and Balsam Street (planned in EA)
- HWY 11/17 and Red River Road (planned in EA)
- HWY 11/17 and Golf Links Road (planned in EA)
- HWY 11/17 and Oliver Road (planned in EA)
- HWY 11/17 and HWY 61 (planned in EA)
- HWY 11/17 and Mapleward Road (conceptual)
- HWY 11/17 and Twin City Crossroad (conceptual)
- HWY 61 and Arthur Street West (planned in EA)
- HWY 61 and Princess Street/Thunder Bay International Airport (planned in EA)
- HWY 61 and Chippewa Road (planned in EA)
- HWY 61 and 20th Side Road/Mountain Road (conceptual)
- HWY 61 and Little Norway Road/Thunder Bay Correctional Complex (conceptual)
- HWY 61 and Hanna Road (conceptual)
Sudbury
This concept envisions a full grade-separated ring road freeway network along the current (and some new) alignments of HWY 69, HWY 11/17, Municipal Road 55, Big Nickel Mine Drive, Municipal Road 35, and Maley Drive. New alignments of Maley Drive East, HWY 11/17, and Municipal Road 35 have been created for bypasses and where highways currently do not exist. The vision is for a continuous highway along Maley Drive from Municipal Road 35 to HWY 11/17, and a continuous highway that runs along Municipal Road 55, Big Nickel Mine Drive, and Municipal Road 35. I initially wanted to follow the alignment of Municipal Road 35 into Chelmsford/Hull to meet directly with HWY 144, but it would have involved too many access roads and too much property impact. Everything in the network would be twinned to a freeway standard. New interchanges have been added, in addition to new road realignments, service roads, and connecting roads. Interchange locations (22) are as follows:
- HWY 69 and Estaire Road (existing)
- HWY 69 and HWY 11/17 (planned in EA)
- HWY 11/17 and Garson Coniston Road (conceptual interchange, planned EA alignment)
- HWY 11/17 and Maley Drive East Extension (conceptual)
- HWY 11/17 and Bancroft Drive/Allan Street (conceptual)
- HWY 11/17 and Long Lake Road (existing)
- HWY 11/17 and Municipal Road 55 (existing)
- HWY 11/17 and HWY 144 (existing)
- Maley Drive East Extension and Falconbridge Road (conceptual)
- Maley Drive and Barry Downe Road (conceptual)
- Maley Drive and Notre Dame Avenue (existing)
- Maley Drive and Lasalle Boulevard (existing)
- Maley Drive and Frood Road (conceptual)
- Maley Drive and Municipal Road 35 (existing)
- Municipal Road 35 and Big Nickel Mine Drive (conceptual)
- Municipal Road 35 and Clarabelle Boulevard (conceptual)
- Municipal Road 35 and McKim Mine Road (conceptual)
- Municipal Road 35 and Notre Dame Avenue East/Gagnon Street (conceptual)
- Municipal Road 35 Extension/Chelmsford Bypass and Notre Dame Street West (conceptual)
- Municipal Road 55 and Lorne Street/Big Nickel Mine Drive (existing)
- Municipal Road 55 and Power Street (conceptual)
- Municipal Road 55 and Magill Street/Duhamel Road (conceptual)