09-01-2014, 06:07 PM
Dec 04, 2011
Waterloo Region Record - kswayze@therecord.com
LINK to article
CAMBRIDGE — Carpool lanes are proposed down the middle of Highway 401 as part of a suggested 10-lane widening of the freeway eastward from Hespeler Road to Halton Region.
The idea was an option at a 2009 public information session that was part of an ongoing Ontario Ministry of Transportation planning process to upgrade the six-lane highway from Cambridge eastward.
Now, the “preferred option” to upgrade the 401 includes “provisions for high occupancy vehicle — HOV — lanes, to address long-term needs,” ministry spokesperson Bob Nichols said.
The highway within a highway proposal goes out for public comment this week at meetings in Cambridge and Puslinch Township.
One inner lane in each direction would be marked with diamonds on the asphalt and overhead signs saying only vehicles carrying two or more people are permitted. Police would enforce the rule.
The other four lanes of traffic in each direction would be used by trucks and other as it is now.
The Hespeler-Halton project is one of several planning studies complete or underway to upgrade Highways 8 and 401 from south Kitchener, through Cambridge and Puslinch Township to Mississauga.
There’s no firm timeline to start any of the work.
Plans have been approved — but not funded — to upgrade the interchange at Highways 8 and 401 by adding a westbound ramp. Currently, southbound traffic on Highway 8 must exit at King Street to enter Highway 401 westbound toward Woodstock.
Detailed design work is underway for widening Highway 401 between Highway 8 and Hespeler Road, said Nichols, of the Transport Ministry.
The work is proposed in two phases, possibly starting by 2015. No cost estimates are available.
The first phase includes the rehabilitation of the Highway 8 to Highway 401 “flyover” ramp, and replacement of the Fountain Street and Speedsville Road bridges over the 401. The second phase includes widening Highway 401.
That’s similar to what’s needed for the next block of the 401 heading eastward from Hespeler Road to Halton Region.
That work would include:
• Reconstruction and modification of the Hespeler Road, Franklin Boulevard, Townline Road, Hanlon Expressway and Brock Road interchanges;
• Replacement of 11 bridges;
• Expansion of two carpool lots.
The Transport Ministry is talking to Waterloo Region officials about adding express-bus bypass lanes on the 401 between Kitchener and Cambridge. Provincial officials are also talking with the City of Cambridge about a pedestrian bridge spanning the 401 near Franklin Boulevard.
Ministry traffic projections say Highway 401 between Hespeler Road and Highway 6 needs eight lanes by 2016 and 10 by 2031.
Between Highway 6 and the Halton boundary, eight lanes are needed by 2016 and perhaps 12 lanes by 2031. (Another study is underway looking at 401 traffic through Halton Region.)
Waterloo Region Record - kswayze@therecord.com
LINK to article
CAMBRIDGE — Carpool lanes are proposed down the middle of Highway 401 as part of a suggested 10-lane widening of the freeway eastward from Hespeler Road to Halton Region.
The idea was an option at a 2009 public information session that was part of an ongoing Ontario Ministry of Transportation planning process to upgrade the six-lane highway from Cambridge eastward.
Now, the “preferred option” to upgrade the 401 includes “provisions for high occupancy vehicle — HOV — lanes, to address long-term needs,” ministry spokesperson Bob Nichols said.
The highway within a highway proposal goes out for public comment this week at meetings in Cambridge and Puslinch Township.
One inner lane in each direction would be marked with diamonds on the asphalt and overhead signs saying only vehicles carrying two or more people are permitted. Police would enforce the rule.
The other four lanes of traffic in each direction would be used by trucks and other as it is now.
The Hespeler-Halton project is one of several planning studies complete or underway to upgrade Highways 8 and 401 from south Kitchener, through Cambridge and Puslinch Township to Mississauga.
There’s no firm timeline to start any of the work.
Plans have been approved — but not funded — to upgrade the interchange at Highways 8 and 401 by adding a westbound ramp. Currently, southbound traffic on Highway 8 must exit at King Street to enter Highway 401 westbound toward Woodstock.
Detailed design work is underway for widening Highway 401 between Highway 8 and Hespeler Road, said Nichols, of the Transport Ministry.
The work is proposed in two phases, possibly starting by 2015. No cost estimates are available.
The first phase includes the rehabilitation of the Highway 8 to Highway 401 “flyover” ramp, and replacement of the Fountain Street and Speedsville Road bridges over the 401. The second phase includes widening Highway 401.
That’s similar to what’s needed for the next block of the 401 heading eastward from Hespeler Road to Halton Region.
That work would include:
• Reconstruction and modification of the Hespeler Road, Franklin Boulevard, Townline Road, Hanlon Expressway and Brock Road interchanges;
• Replacement of 11 bridges;
• Expansion of two carpool lots.
The Transport Ministry is talking to Waterloo Region officials about adding express-bus bypass lanes on the 401 between Kitchener and Cambridge. Provincial officials are also talking with the City of Cambridge about a pedestrian bridge spanning the 401 near Franklin Boulevard.
Ministry traffic projections say Highway 401 between Hespeler Road and Highway 6 needs eight lanes by 2016 and 10 by 2031.
Between Highway 6 and the Halton boundary, eight lanes are needed by 2016 and perhaps 12 lanes by 2031. (Another study is underway looking at 401 traffic through Halton Region.)