2245 replies to this topic

[Nparker]

It would never work locally since it doesn't create additional traffic lights. Isn't that the modus operandi for all CRD highway "upgrades"?

[nagel]

Now this is an interchange

 

https://news.sky.com...letion-11484955

 

 

I did a few of these in Paris minutes after picking up my stick SUV at CDG (with batsh*t crazy lanesplitting motorcyclies and scooters).  You overestimate the skills of local drivers.

[LJ]

That could never be built here, it's way too inexpensive.

[gkz]

Roundabouts don't function well when the flow of traffic is heavily inbalanced (i.e. in this case TCH South to McKenzie and McKenzie to TCH North would be by far the dominant movements). Because of this, such an interchange would not be desirable. 

[Mike K.]

👉 Traffic flow changes at McKenzie interchange site start this evening 👈

From the Ministry of Transportation:

Drivers should not feel spooked if their Halloween commute through the McKenzie interchange feels a little different.

Beginning on the evening of Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018, southbound highway traffic entering the intersection will be shifted to new temporary Admirals Road on- and off-ramps.

The traffic shift marks a major milestone for the McKenzie interchange project, designed to improve the “Colwood Crawl” and ease South Island traffic congestion.

These ramps will allow crews to lower Highway 1 and build the eventual overpass across the highway connecting McKenzie Avenue and Admirals Road.

This new southbound configuration, along with the existing northbound traffic pattern, will be in place until the interchange opens to free-flowing traffic by late summer 2019. The entire interchange project is anticipated to cut roughly 20 minutes off peak commute times and is on schedule to wrap up by the end of 2019.

The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure expects some temporary initial delays as drivers adjust to the new lanes and signal locations. Staff will be on site during busy commute hours to monitor traffic flow and signal timing, and will make any necessary adjustments.

The ministry asks drivers to follow signs, watch for workers and obey the construction speed limit of 60 km/h.

Progress continues to be made on the remainder of the project, including the Galloping Goose Trail and McKenzie Avenue. Sound walls are being installed throughout the project site to help minimize construction noise for local residents and schools.

[PraiseKek]

Apparently the word on the street is the southbound lights were only green for 5 seconds at a time this morning causing mayhem. I'm sure that's an exaggeration but you'd think they would have learned something from last time.

[Mike K.]

Yup. People were saying it took 1.5-2 two hours to get downtown via transit from areas of the Westshore.

[dasmo]

It’s messed up...,

[DustMagnet]

It’s messed up...,

Still?  They swore they would fix it by noon...

[dasmo]

Nope. 30 minutes to get from Tillicum to Mackenzie.

[PraiseKek]

They had some spokesperson from the Ministry of Transportation saying they were "making tweaks" to the lights on CFAX this morning. As usual utter incompetence from that Ministry. Although honestly at this point I think it's malice.

[Mike K.]

Holy smokes. Was it that bad just now?

[dasmo]

Around 4:00 so pretty peak.

[Redd42]

I was trying to go out to the airport around 6 this evening. Holy friggining smokes!! Any road some how connected to the Trans Canada was plugged! Starting with Gorge Rd. I thought there had to be an accident. 

[Danma]

This morning was pretty bad. At 8:45 onto the highway at Millstream, took 40 minutes to make it to McKenzie.

[Bingo]

...is still a long way off, but if if you could keep the traffic moving at that location there would be... no idling, and therefore less pollution.

If you could keep the vehicles moving, commuters would be less inclined to detour through View Royal, Esquimalt and Vic West on their way in from the Western Communities.

The interchange was estimated to cost $17 million in 2000, but would likely be $50 million by now, with no signs of anything happening any time soon.

 

A full interchange is probably not needed as the main need is for the traffic turning off and onto the Trans-Canada highway at McKenzie.

According to BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, there are 80 to 90 thousand vehicles per day passing west of that location, as counted during July 2009.

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

If there was ever an important infrastructure project, this is the one that has been talked about the longest. The money that is slated to be spent on a new Johnson Street Bridge, could have been better spent there.

 

If an interchange can help alleviate traffic using the Point Ellis and Johnson Street Bridges, then the investment would be a sound one.

 

It's still a long way off...and for many of the drivers facing delays due to a temporary realignment of the interchange intersection it can't come soon enough.

I have said it before...this would have been the time to have tried some form of transit on the old E&N right of way.

Perhaps that will still be an option once the interchange is complete and the crawl still exists.

 

Meanwhile Jack Knox has  given us his perspective in today's Times Colonist.

https://www.timescol...mare-1.23490999

[Bingo]

Double post removed 

 

Edited by Bingo, 08 November 2018 - 09:54 AM.

[Mike K.]

Posted to VV's Facebook page in response to comments on heavy congestion along the TCH and the Old Island Highway's heavily traffic-calmed design:

 

A country lane, seriously? It is a road that supports all modes of transportation rather than just the motor vehicle. The traffic actually flows much better than before we did the work. It is not a highway, it is a community road. And, there is not enough right of way there to even come close to four lanes!!! Not that we would have anyways but it is impossible. You have a choice, stay on the Trans Canada Highway or use our local road to commute. But don't expect us to destroy our community by blasting a second major highway through it. - View Royal's Mayor David Screech

 

The Old Island Highway ...is not a highway.

[Cats4Hire]

I really don't get that train of thought. Why would anyone want to live on a road that if you need to leave your house at any point even close to rush hour good luck getting to the road? Old Island Highway doesn't even have much bus service anyone (you have the 14 but that turns off at Helmcken and the 46 but that only runs during rush hour and unless you want to go to Dockyard or Langford/Westhills isn't really that helpful when they used to have the 39). Maybe when McKenzie is done it will be more viable to get to Dockyard from the Westshore via the TCH/Admirals but currently I doubt it.

[Mike K.]

Oh I know, Screech is missing the point regarding the livability of his own constituents. View Royal is a complete disaster as far as traffic is concerned between 6AM and 10AM, then again at 2PM to 6PM every single business day.

 

Where's the fun in that? You literally can't leave your home to run a quick errand during those times and expect to not sit in idling traffic for who knows how long. Screech should be screaming from the rafters for funding to expand his roads considering he reins over a chimera of a municipality that's younger in age as an incorporated entity than literally everyone on this board.