Roads: Ontario/GTA Highways Discussion

[11th]

I bet the majority of those on 400 heading west also only go a short distance - to 409 or 427. An airport symbol would help too.

Also heading the junction to the west is the 30 ... which one could take all the way to Sorel (unlikely) or to other south-shore destinations (quite likely for those that live near the 40 in Vaudreuil - or even at the very west of the island; heading down Decarie or the 13 and 20 to the Champlain Bridge is often too busy.

Bottom line, is that I agree that the signage to 400/401 is insufficient.

There's other gems around here; most people wanting to get downtown, surely go to the middle, when they should go to the right - which leads to both the QEW East AND West.

View attachment 402161

Technically they shouldn't even use cardinal directions for QEW at this junction.

 

[lenaitch]

Technically they shouldn't even use cardinal directions for QEW at this junction.

There's a reason most media traffic reports use phrases like 'Toronto bound' for the QEW, particularly south of Hamilton.

Quite frankly, I'm not sure how useful posting cardinal directions is anymore. For some people, it never was.

 

[whydidimakethis]

Quite frankly, I'm not sure how useful posting cardinal directions is anymore. For some people, it never was.

The QEW is really the only 400 series that doesn't predominantly travel in one cardinal direction (Edit: there's the 115 on a diagonal but it still travels in one straight line). If the 413 is built, it will be interesting to see which direction it is signed. Maybe it will be done like Calgary's 201, where each section has its own directions. Or possibly it will be signed as 400 VIA 413 and 401 VIA 413, with no cardinal directions. My guess is the control cities (based on what the 407E's are) would probably be Barrie (although that would be far off) and Mississauga/Brampton? After all Peterborough is signed on the 412N, and Toronto on 407E.
The Bradford Bypass would almost definitely be signed one way as Barrie and the other way as Toronto/Newmarket.

 

[Steve X]

The QEW is really the only 400 series that doesn't predominantly travel in one cardinal direction (Edit: there's the 115 on a diagonal but it still travels in one straight line). If the 413 is built, it will be interesting to see which direction it is signed. Maybe it will be done like Calgary's 201, where each section has its own directions. Or possibly it will be signed as 400 VIA 413 and 401 VIA 413, with no cardinal directions. My guess is the control cities (based on what the 407E's are) would probably be Barrie (although that would be far off) and Mississauga/Brampton? After all Peterborough is signed on the 412N, and Toronto on 407E.
The Bradford Bypass would almost definitely be signed one way as Barrie and the other way as Toronto/Newmarket.

413 would be east/west. Just like 407 right at the 413's western terminal. Both the 403 and 407 are signed east/west while going north/south at that Peel/Halton boarder area. In fact while being signed east, it's true direction is NNW.

Perhaps the government should subsidies trucks on the 407 between the 403 and 401 to create a toll-free corridor from the QEW via the 403 and 401 to connect to the 413.

 

[Coolibop]

Random, I think it fits here topic after I feel into a rabbit hole... Is there any reason diamond grinding isn't used on the 400 series? Everywhere I've seen, it's been nice, quiet, and smooth. I've only seen it in a few places across the 407,and even there it isn't consistent. The newest extensions of the 407 are back to regular ashfault surfaces.

I've seen it used on the 95 through upstate by, so I'm not sure weather is a reason not to install. Supposedly cheaper... Is it because we have too high volumes?

 

[Transportfan]

The QEW is really the only 400 series that doesn't predominantly travel in one cardinal direction (Edit: there's the 115 on a diagonal but it still travels in one straight line). If the 413 is built, it will be interesting to see which direction it is signed. Maybe it will be done like Calgary's 201, where each section has its own directions. Or possibly it will be signed as 400 VIA 413 and 401 VIA 413, with no cardinal directions. My guess is the control cities (based on what the 407E's are) would probably be Barrie (although that would be far off) and Mississauga/Brampton? After all Peterborough is signed on the 412N, and Toronto on 407E.
The Bradford Bypass would almost definitely be signed one way as Barrie and the other way as Toronto/Newmarket.

I find it stupid the way the 400 control cities are signed Parry Sound-Barrie as far north as Port Severn and then Toronto-Sudbury north of there. I'd think that would cause confusion driving north seeing Sudbury before reaching Parry Sound, especially since most people are only going as far as Parry Sound.

 

[Transportfan]

Or even add some highway numbers beyond. 427 and DVP perhaps for those driving in from the north.

Here's a good example from Montreal of what it could say.
View attachment 401484

That sign should say Kingston to match the 401 control cities.

 

[Transportfan]

That's... unusual. I think the only places where this is true is within major cities like Toronto and Ottawa. (and only the ETR). Everywhere else you have destination labels. I assume this is because in these areas the highways are mostly used for Intracity purposes, and as such the final destination isn't that useful.

But if you go out into the suburbs like Richmond Hill or Vaughan, they display the final destination just fine:
View attachment 400713

But if you go out into the suburbs like Richmond Hill or Vaughan, they display the final destination just fine:
View attachment 400713

The MTO signs them in the 905 suburbs because they're not Toronto and the MTO treats them as such, even though the conditions are the same.

 

[Undead]

I would like to see this in Ontario, especially in rural and northern areas:

This state in Australia is starting a trial run of glow in the dark roads - Alt Car news

If this trial run proves successful, glow in the dark lane markings might become commonplace all over Australia Hard to see lane markings at night, particularly in places without proper street lighting, might become a thing of the past if this trial run headed by VicRoads of Victoria, Australia...

tiremeetsroad.com

Some drawbacks:

“Since the road markings were put in place two weeks ago it has been reported that some drivers were driving along the road in the dark with their headlights switched off so that they could experience the glow in the dark effect,” the BBC reports.

Drivers also soon found out, an unfortunate observation confirmed by civil engineers in charge, that “road markings were sensitive to large amounts of moisture due to rainfall.”

Reflectors embedded in the road would probably work better.

 

[ericmacm]

I would like to see this in Ontario, especially in rural and northern areas:

This state in Australia is starting a trial run of glow in the dark roads - Alt Car news

If this trial run proves successful, glow in the dark lane markings might become commonplace all over Australia Hard to see lane markings at night, particularly in places without proper street lighting, might become a thing of the past if this trial run headed by VicRoads of Victoria, Australia...

tiremeetsroad.com

Some drawbacks:

“Since the road markings were put in place two weeks ago it has been reported that some drivers were driving along the road in the dark with their headlights switched off so that they could experience the glow in the dark effect,” the BBC reports.

Drivers also soon found out, an unfortunate observation confirmed by civil engineers in charge, that “road markings were sensitive to large amounts of moisture due to rainfall.”

Reflectors embedded in the road would probably work better.

Worth noting that the drawbacks reported were from a prior pilot run in the Netherlands in 2014. Hopefully Australian drivers are smart enough to not switch off their headlights, and that whatever formula they are using is more resilient to the weather. That part of Australia is of a similar climate to coastal BC so if successful, it would definitely have applicability in Canada.

 

[PinkLucy]

I would like to see this in Ontario, especially in rural and northern areas:

This state in Australia is starting a trial run of glow in the dark roads - Alt Car news

If this trial run proves successful, glow in the dark lane markings might become commonplace all over Australia Hard to see lane markings at night, particularly in places without proper street lighting, might become a thing of the past if this trial run headed by VicRoads of Victoria, Australia...

tiremeetsroad.com

Some drawbacks:

“Since the road markings were put in place two weeks ago it has been reported that some drivers were driving along the road in the dark with their headlights switched off so that they could experience the glow in the dark effect,” the BBC reports.

Drivers also soon found out, an unfortunate observation confirmed by civil engineers in charge, that “road markings were sensitive to large amounts of moisture due to rainfall.”

Reflectors embedded in the road would probably work better.

The problem with reflectors embedded in the road is snow plows. They use them in some of the southern states.

 

[innsertnamehere]

They are quite common in California, but in cold climates need “cuts” in the asphalt so that they are below the plow line. Those cuts make them a lot more expensive to install to be impractical, and even those aren’t foolproof at keeping the plows off them.

Some snow states have them by doing that, but they are rare in areas that have snow in general. Places like California and Nevada have them friggen everywhere.

 

[ShonTron]

They are quite common in California, but in cold climates need “cuts” in the asphalt so that they are below the plow line. Those cuts make them a lot more expensive to install to be impractical, and even those aren’t foolproof at keeping the plows off them.

Some snow states have them by doing that, but they are rare in areas that have snow in general. Places like California and Nevada have them friggen everywhere.

You might be thinking of Botts dots, which either augment or even replace paint in a lot of CA, AZ, and NV. They’re great in many ways - more reflective and are felt when driving over them - but not compatible with snow clearance.

 

[ARG1]

I would like to see this in Ontario, especially in rural and northern areas:

This state in Australia is starting a trial run of glow in the dark roads - Alt Car news

If this trial run proves successful, glow in the dark lane markings might become commonplace all over Australia Hard to see lane markings at night, particularly in places without proper street lighting, might become a thing of the past if this trial run headed by VicRoads of Victoria, Australia...

tiremeetsroad.com

Some drawbacks:

“Since the road markings were put in place two weeks ago it has been reported that some drivers were driving along the road in the dark with their headlights switched off so that they could experience the glow in the dark effect,” the BBC reports.

Drivers also soon found out, an unfortunate observation confirmed by civil engineers in charge, that “road markings were sensitive to large amounts of moisture due to rainfall.”

Reflectors embedded in the road would probably work better.

Honestly I don't see the point. Yellow paint is generally quite reflective and I don't think anyone has ever had a problem with not being able to see road lines at night. The exception to this is probably during winter time, however as others have pointed out, these lights aren't exactly usable when snowed in either - so its not like that problem is solved.

 

[Undead]

I want to drive with my lights off, duh.