News   Jul 12, 2024
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News   Jul 12, 2024
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Roads: Highway 401 Widening - Highway 8 to Highway 410 (MTO, U/C, Planned)

I don't understand something. Generally if you are in the express lane and you wish to exit the highway you switch the collector lanes and then exit from there. Going EB on 401 express, if you want to exit to 427 you switch to collector and then exit. And similarly those in the collector wishing to continue on 401 stay to the left. And hence the transfer. However going WB express, the exit to Hurontario seems like it totally goes under the collector lanes and directly onto the exit ramp. So when I was approaching the hurontario exit on EB collectors, I stayed to the left expecting to merge onto express however I was still on collectors. So in the future, where will be the transfer to the express in the WB lanes? Hopefully before Mavis.

Its not a transfer point, hence why you were still in the collectors. No point having a transfer at that spot when the Express/Collector system ends there anyway.
 
There is no transfer from the collector to express lanes on the WB 401 west of Highway 427. This means anyone entering the 401 from the 427, Eglington, Renforth, Dixie and 410 are all funneled into the collector lanes. No actual change has happened as this was the setup before the Ontario reconstruction took place so it must all be volume. Also you don't need to go from express to collectors to access Hurontario Street as there is a direct exit from the express lanes.

A basketweave transfer will be in use west of the 410 when the next phase of the project is complete. This will allow some relief as cars in the collectors can enter the express lanes before more cars are dumped into the collectors at Hurontario.

I always found it a little odd how there is a basketweave transfer on 401 EB by the airport (express to collector and collector to express) but not on 401 WB (only express to collector). Having a transfer point here would allow cars entering 401WB from the 427 a chance to get into the express lanes before Highway 410. Ontario usually does a good job at prepping for the future, but this is an exception to the rule. I think a collector to express transfer here would do a lot to air traffic flow.

Looking at this picture http://asphaltplanet.ca/ON/hwy_401_images/Hurontario/2013/08-Aug/401_cl_342_east_Aug13_24x16.jpg I see what appears to be a transfer from collector to express. Not sure why it isn't open yet.
 
So I have noticed over the past couple months some work was being done on the 2nd Line West bridge. It looks like they removed some concrete down to the rebar on the support stands and then they filled recently with new concrete. Now they are doing some digging on the side of the highway near the bridge. Why bother revamping the bridge if it is going to get taken down soon anyway? Please don't say "Because they don't plan on taking it down anytime soon", lol.
 
Drove through the new eastbound express lanes yesterday. I'm still amazed that it took 4 years to rebuild such a short stretch of road... But perhaps rebuild isn't the right word, as it is a freaking huge project. It looks nothing like it did before.

[video=youtube;JasSrmBYPwk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JasSrmBYPwk[/video]
 
Oh and dont want to spam here but on the way back I decided to take the collectors so see what's up there. I like how all 3 lanes go past 403/410 now!

[video=youtube;pqtxnMYvPTE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqtxnMYvPTE[/video]
 
Does anyone have any new pics of the final (for now) alignment of the start and end of this new phase? I am curious how it looks from the overpasses. I don't live in the area, just pass through everyday.

Thanks
 
Small update: this video tour of the 401 shows the new westbound express lanes near the end:

[video=youtube;HTCX-Rjjw1E]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTCX-Rjjw1E[/video]
 

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