11-11-2018, 08:33 AM
Broadly speaking that is true, but it's just as simplistic model as saying congestion = not enough road and building more. Overall, this stretch of highway is getting more congested. I feel this is largely due to the heavy volumes of truck traffic on the route, which is definitely in part due to induced demand, but also just a factor of just-in-time manufacturing that likely wouldn't change even if the 401 was ground to a halt.
What's also clear to me, though, is that the traffic moves well except for a few points. Those points are between Hwy 8 and Townline Road, going up the escarpment east of Guelph Line, and between 25 and Trafalgar Rd. in Milton. This is largely due to merging traffic in the urban areas, and slow truck traffic blocking the right two lanes on the hill up the escarpment. The latter is clearly an issue of road design leading to congestion and is a problem that can be fixed by better designing the road either lowering the grade, or simply adding a lane through that section to facilitate passing.
What's also clear to me, though, is that the traffic moves well except for a few points. Those points are between Hwy 8 and Townline Road, going up the escarpment east of Guelph Line, and between 25 and Trafalgar Rd. in Milton. This is largely due to merging traffic in the urban areas, and slow truck traffic blocking the right two lanes on the hill up the escarpment. The latter is clearly an issue of road design leading to congestion and is a problem that can be fixed by better designing the road either lowering the grade, or simply adding a lane through that section to facilitate passing.