Roads, Highways & Infrastructure

[lemongrab]

IMO the practical goal should be to get to a point where you can sign the entire route with "Next Passing Lane 10 KM Ahead" (or less).

Highest yield would be Field to Wapta Falls, and Golden to the Weigh Station. Somehow I find Golden to Donald to be the worst part of the entire drive. It's probably not the easiest fix with all the side roads and driveways, though.

Yoho would be easy except for the Big Hill and the 4km section of fill leading into Field. I'm unsure if additional fill to accomidate 4 lanes would pass environmental review. The Big Hill would take considerable blasting.

I have no idea how they would widen through the snow sheds in Rogers. Maybe build new sheds that encompass the old ones and new lanes then demolish the old ones. Maybe build as much as possible for the new sheds, demolish the old ones and leave sections unprotected for a year or two while the new sheds are completed. Maybe build the new lanes elevated above the avalanche paths, shift traffic to them, demolish sheds and then build new elecated lanes as replacements,

It's at least 2 lanes ascending already, so the ROI of going to 4 is a lot lower than a lot of other areas. Especially since there's a slow down section at Field anyways

 

[FCC1982]

… or just twin it all to have a proper national highway befitting a first world country.

 

[darwink]

… or just twin it all to have a proper national highway befitting a first world country.

Not really necessary in northern Ontario. The goal there is an alternating three and down to two at bridges. Affordable and scaled to the traffic level.

 

[FCC1982]

I was thinking more just BC to link the two largest cities in western Canada with a proper highway.

 

[Mountain Man]

… or just twin it all to have a proper national highway befitting a first world country.

BC is working hard on it, the Kicking Horse Canyon is basically finished. Not sure what's next though, lots of very tricky areas to try and twin (3 Valley Gap for example).

 

[CBBarnett]

BC is working hard on it, the Kicking Horse Canyon is basically finished. Not sure what's next though, lots of very tricky areas to try and twin (3 Valley Gap for example).

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation-projects/highway1-kamloops-alberta

List of current and recent projects.

 

[FCC1982]

Want to see it done before I’m dead

 

[lemongrab]

… or just twin it all to have a proper national highway befitting a first world country.

...or just spend that money on the humans that live here. There are a few sections where the lemon just isn't worth the squeeze (and I know a thing or two about lemons).

You also have to factor the disruption from construction at these most difficult spots. Closing KH for months at a time meant a ~1hr detour. That's not really an option at all for the 220 kms from Golden to Sicamous. They're taking on the low hanging fruit now, but there's going to be segments that just don't make sense, and that's fine.

 

[Mountain Man]

Want to see it done before I’m dead

How long you have left? maybe don't hold your breath... lol

 

[MuzikMachine]

BC is working hard on it, the Kicking Horse Canyon is basically finished. Not sure what's next though, lots of very tricky areas to try and twin (3 Valley Gap for example).

BC is working on it....but it's still progressing quite slowly. Even with the Kicking Horse Canyon, there was about a 10 year hiatus between Phases 3 and 4. I feel that for a highway with national importance, it shouldn't fall solely on the BC provincial government to improve it (outside national parks). The Federal government has made some financial contributions, but it's been more on a project-by-project bases vs. an all-encompassing plan for the entire corridor.

 

[InfrastructureEnthusiast]

I drove highway 1 to Calgary last summer for the first time in over a decade and I was pleasantly surprised at how many portions had been improved or were in progress. But it really is taking a long time for something long overdue..

Getting these routes improved is not just about speed and convenience, but personal safety as well. I tried looking for long term accident and death statistics for the TransCanada but didn't find anything, but fatal accidents are hardly a rarity.

This is one situation where I almost wish Canada was a more litigious society, not sure what else could be done to get the various governments to pick up the pace?

 

[darwink]

This is one situation where I almost wish Canada was a more litigious society, not sure what else could be done to get the various governments to pick up the pace?

Courts do not force the spending of money.

 

[InfrastructureEnthusiast]

Courts do not force the spending of money.

Maybe not, but if the governments can be successfully sued for providing unsafe infrastructure, at some point it becomes more cost effective to simply build safer roads.

Or put differently...

 

[lemongrab]

Maybe not, but if the governments can be successfully sued for providing unsafe infrastructure, at some point it becomes more cost effective to simply build safer roads.

What do you think constitutes unsafe infrastructure?

 

[MuzikMachine]

Courts do not force the spending of money.

In Canada, being litigious would be more influential in "safety improvements" than actual capital improvements to the roadway. We'd probably end up with additional signage, a lower speed limit, extended areas of no passing, and additional closures during more inclement conditions - but not a four lane roadway.