(11-13-2020, 10:29 PM)tomh009 Wrote:

(11-13-2020, 10:23 PM)danbrotherston Wrote: The fifth bay is inaccessible, because of the GO transit platform extension, there is no way to leave that bay without driving on Gaukel which is closed.

I don't think you're going to get a line of cars two wide, it would completely block the roadway meaning it would be impossible for any vehicle to leave if there was a situation. There are two bays, and the suggestion is that one would be used for the first step, the second for the second step, as I understand is happening at Glasgow, which again comes back to room for 20-25 cars.  Maybe their operation has been streamlined and they could have 40-50 cars.

Forgot about the extension, my bad. But while the two lines (in one bay) wouldn't allow anyone to exit rapidly, the same is true at 137 today once you are lining up. Or at a Tim Hortons drive-through. Or any highway on/off-ramp at a rush hour. I think that's a reasonable compromise.

Or they could reopen the last 10m of Gaukel for exiting traffic. Not ideal, but it would address the capacity concerns.

(11-14-2020, 09:52 AM)jamincan Wrote: There's still room for cars to access others bays from the last bay even without using Gaukel. I'm assuming people aren't driving a bus through the testing centre.

(11-14-2020, 03:51 PM)clasher Wrote: With the weather turning I wouldn't mind if they re-opened Gaukel partially.

(11-14-2020, 05:18 PM)panamaniac Wrote: What was the paln for the Gaukel closure?  Temporary for the good weather, temporary for the duration of the pandemic, or temporary pending a permanent closure?

(11-14-2020, 05:56 PM)Square Wrote:

(11-14-2020, 05:18 PM)panamaniac Wrote: What was the paln for the Gaukel closure?  Temporary for the good weather, temporary for the duration of the pandemic, or temporary pending a permanent closure?

IIRC, the old road closure said that the road should have opened about 2 weeks ago and permantly close in the spring 2021.  (The road is still closed tho)

(11-14-2020, 04:51 PM)ac3r Wrote: Yeah...why reopen Gaukel? It's completely useless as a road. It serves much more function for pedestrians. Victoria Park is always popular in winter, so I imagine it'll be attractive for people wanting to go to the park.

(11-13-2020, 10:41 PM)danbrotherston Wrote: I realize we're a car centric city in a Tims centric country, but I don't know of any Tims drivethrough which holds 50 cars...if there was an emergency, it would be a quick thing to get out. At 137, are there curbs blocking in the cars in the lanes? I feel like they could have a car exit if necessary. With curbs and walls, it would be physically impossible.  And yes, I occasionally do feel claustrophobic in highway traffic jams, but there's little you can do there, I've only twice ended up on the shoulder with an emergency.

(11-14-2020, 09:23 PM)tomh009 Wrote:

(11-13-2020, 10:41 PM)danbrotherston Wrote: I realize we're a car centric city in a Tims centric country, but I don't know of any Tims drivethrough which holds 50 cars...if there was an emergency, it would be a quick thing to get out. At 137, are there curbs blocking in the cars in the lanes? I feel like they could have a car exit if necessary. With curbs and walls, it would be physically impossible.  And yes, I occasionally do feel claustrophobic in highway traffic jams, but there's little you can do there, I've only twice ended up on the shoulder with an emergency.

At 137, there is no easy way to get out of the line-up. Maybe by driving over the curbs in an SUV? You are similarly stuck in a line for a long time when crossing the US border by car (in a non-COVID year), or lining up for a ferry, or waiting to exit a large parking garage, or ...

I think this urgent need to drive away from the testing line-up should be a very rare occurrence. If you personally feel uncomfortable with it, the walk-in method might be a better option.