Topic: Finally a Montreal by-pass

[Ex-airbalancer]

but will not be done until 2012
http://www.canadiandriver.com/thenews/2008/06/19/partnership-will-complete-montreal-bypass.htm

[dr_spock]

In the meantime, continue to enjoy autoroute 40 and 20 during rush hour. 

[mrthompson]

When will the Ontario government build a bridge over or a tunnel underneath Toronto? 

[UmroAyyar]

When will the Ontario government build a bridge over or a tunnel underneath Toronto? 

Very unlikely. Instead, they are chopping off the section of Gardiner Expressway that connects to Don Valley Parkway. I guess they want the highway traffic going through the city. The boffins hired by the city said it will only add '2' minutes to people's commute.

[tpl]

When will the Ontario government build a bridge over or a tunnel underneath Toronto? 

Very unlikely. Instead, they are chopping off the section of Gardiner Expressway that connects to Don Valley Parkway. I guess they want the highway traffic going through the city. The boffins hired by the city said it will only add '2' minutes to people's commute.

Actually they want to stop traffic coming into Toronto at all... seriously.   But they don't quite  dare to do so as the  pre amalgamation City of Toronto dwellers are not in themselves a big enough population to support the business district and the business taxes that it brings. After all there is no REAL reason why the banks and the stock exchange could not move to a more tax friendly place or places in the 905.

[tenpenny]

When will the Ontario government build a bridge over or a tunnel underneath Toronto? 

Isn't that what the 407 is for?

[UmroAyyar]

When will the Ontario government build a bridge over or a tunnel underneath Toronto? 

Very unlikely. Instead, they are chopping off the section of Gardiner Expressway that connects to Don Valley Parkway. I guess they want the highway traffic going through the city. The boffins hired by the city said it will only add '2' minutes to people's commute.

Actually they want to stop traffic coming into Toronto at all... seriously.   But they don't quite  dare to do so as the  pre amalgamation City of Toronto dwellers are not in themselves a big enough population to support the business district and the business taxes that it brings. After all there is no REAL reason why the banks and the stock exchange could not move to a more tax friendly place or places in the 905.

I am not against the idea of removing the Gardiner but this is at best a half measure response. IMHO, if it needs to be taken down from Spadina. Make the waterfront, pedestrian friendly, a place where people would want to go, it isn't right now.

They'll have to widen the lakeshore, remove atleast half of those traffic lights, increase the speed to 80km/hr, connect it to major arteries only e.g. Spadina, Yonge, Jarvis etc.

The proposal in its current form doesn't even address their 'going green, waterfront revitalization' philosophy.

The lakefront promenade in Mississauga is a pretty neat idea. You have picnic areas and a huge area for children to play on multiple splash pads, trails and park area.

[tpl]

"They'll have to widen the lakeshore, remove atleast half of those traffic lights, increase the speed to 80km/hr, connect it to major arteries only e.g. Spadina, Yonge, Jarvis etc.
"

And how do you get pedestrians across a 80 km/h ground level neo-expressway??

All these plans have wide streets, as wide as University Avenue, full of traffic with pedestrian crossings on them.....

The lakeshore problem is NOT the Gardiner, it is the road running underneath it AND the wall of Condos actually on the lake front itself.

I'd suggest keeping the Gardiner, maybe double decking it even and removing the Lakeshore from Cherry to Spadina. Replace the Lakeshore with a non divided road on just the city side , use the space actually under the Gardiner for retail and have a pedestrian precinct on the lake side.  There are difficulties with this plan as with any of them... expressway exits and entrances being the main one.

[quadzilla]

The lakeshore problem is NOT the Gardiner, it is the road running underneath it AND the wall of Condos actually on the lake front itself.

I agree. I get tired of them saying, you can't see the lake because of the Gardiner. I'm like, How about all those condos they keep building?

Taking down the Gardiner is not the answer. You just can't make Lakeshore wide enough to support all that traffic.

[UmroAyyar]

Agreed, this should remain an idea. They are quite keen to tear it down though. More and more parking lots are converting into condos, they're almost brushing the highway with the condo buildings.

[Rupert]

Why not replace the Gardiner with a Super Gardiner. Not two storey but much higher, sort of like a modern version of a Roman aquaduct. This way the traffic would be separated and views of the lake would be afforded through the arches, where condos permit. No off ramps into the city centre. It's all dream$$$...

[UmroAyyar]

I am sorry, this thread was about Montreal.  We're all dreaming that the pols will do something really useful.

[dr_spock]

Interesting how Montreal quickly turned into Toronto around here.     Toronto could build a tunnel like the Ville Marie or a trench like the Decarie in Montreal.

[mwqa]

Montreal is determined to take down elevated highways: they'll spend a billion and a half $$ (IIRC) taking down the Turcott Interchange. They say that elevated highways are too expensive to maintain and were more a reflection of NA's love affair with the car than sensible road management.

They'll be building under the interchange, then take it down. I think they will be appropriating and razing over a hundred buildings to get the work down (there again, don't quote me because I haven't been following things too closely).

Anyone in Mtl notice how renovated the city core is looking these days?? I was quite impressed walking down de Maisonneuve yesterday.

[robarakira]

Vancouver is also getting some much-needed infrastructure stream-lining....


http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/gateway/

[tenpenny]

Anyone in Mtl notice how renovated the city core is looking these days?? I was quite impressed walking down de Maisonneuve yesterday.

Whenever I'm on Ste Catherine, I notice lots of new, improved, enlarged things, too.

What was your question again?

[mrthompson]

About airbags, wasn't it?

[Snowman]

Having driven though both Montréal and Toronto during rush hour I will take my chances in Montréal over Toronto any day. The lanes might be tighter and the drivers more haywire but they have higher skill sets IMO.

[Rupert]

I agree with Snowman. You have to be a bit determined on those tight roads...it's expected anyway. Years ago though I think that the situation was reversed.