Flames to announce plans to announce arena plans in the... future...

[Finger Cookin]

Only 10 years? I sure hope the new arena is really far along and pretty great.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by T@T

Just guessing but your authority is the same as mine, the voice in your head saying who is the f^#&ing idiot who designed this mess the first time you drive it.

That, and hearing the same voice every time I tried to get on or off the Deerfoot between Blackfoot and McKnight.

At one point in the 1970s, I read an article in the Herald about the design of this wonderful new freeway, which stressed the point that all the interchanges had been designed by the city's own engineering staff. It seemed pretty clear to me that these were the same geniuses who did the Bow/Crow No-Flow, a.k.a. Malfunction Junction. For one thing, they liked to break the standard rules of interchange design in the same ways, such as having on-ramps enter from the left, and having through lanes suddenly turn into exits. And my personal favourite, putting multiple stoplights smack in the middle of a multi-level interchange.

By contrast, all the interchanges on Stoney Trail, and on the new section of Deerfoot (south of 22X), were built by the provincial government, and built to international engineering standards. The contrast is breathtaking. If I get to drive on Stoney Trail whilst running errands, and then have to take Malfunction Junction to get home to Bankview, it brings tears to my eyes and $*@&! to my lips.

[calgarygeologist]

Regarding Crowchild at Bow/Memorial, I don't believe that anything can be and will be achieved within the next couple of decades.

One project/idea that needs to be fast tracked is bridging over Edworthy Park from 16th Ave/Shaganappi/Memorial to Bow Trail/Sarcee Trail.

[Resolute 14]

Given the NIMBYs basically squashed the city's consulting process regarding Bow/Memorial, I would argue the only way that ever gets fixed is if the bridge simply collapses and forces a rebuild.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Given the NIMBYs basically squashed the city's consulting process regarding Bow/Memorial, I would argue the only way that ever gets fixed is if the bridge simply collapses and forces a rebuild.

I'm not sayin', I'm just sayin'.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Given the NIMBYs basically squashed the city's consulting process regarding Bow/Memorial, I would argue the only way that ever gets fixed is if the bridge simply collapses and forces a rebuild.

I feel sorry for the folks that have to commute over the Bow River using Crowchild every day especially during peak times. I've had the misfortune of having to do it a few times but I couldn't imagine doing it every day.

The congestion over the long weekend was brutal due to the paving being done on Memorial. I saw the backed up traffic on Crowchild northbound from a distance and I was really glad that I didn't need to use that roadway at that time.

[Mazrim]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

That, and hearing the same voice every time I tried to get on or off the Deerfoot between Blackfoot and McKnight.

At one point in the 1970s, I read an article in the Herald about the design of this wonderful new freeway, which stressed the point that all the interchanges had been designed by the city's own engineering staff. It seemed pretty clear to me that these were the same geniuses who did the Bow/Crow No-Flow, a.k.a. Malfunction Junction. For one thing, they liked to break the standard rules of interchange design in the same ways, such as having on-ramps enter from the left, and having through lanes suddenly turn into exits. And my personal favourite, putting multiple stoplights smack in the middle of a multi-level interchange.

By contrast, all the interchanges on Stoney Trail, and on the new section of Deerfoot (south of 22X), were built by the provincial government, and built to international engineering standards. The contrast is breathtaking. If I get to drive on Stoney Trail whilst running errands, and then have to take Malfunction Junction to get home to Bankview, it brings tears to my eyes and $*@&! to my lips.

- Design standards for roads were way different in the 1970s than they were in the 90s-00s. Things like left entrances and cloverleafs were all the rage 40 years ago, and they are both frowned upon in design now.
- The Crowchild/Bow/Memorial interchange was purposely built with no future expansion in mind to save money. Blame the policy makers on limiting us now, not the designers. They had a tough task there with limited funding. The one thing I think everyone can agree on is the lane balance through there is terrible.
- Stop lights on a "multi-level interchange" (Interchange already implies grade separation, multi-level would be more than 1 bridge level like Stoney/Deerfoot) are fine. The high cost of adding flyover ramps to support turning movements are usually not worth it just to keep the cross street traffic free flowing.
- Deerfoot and Stoney are designed to Canadian standards, not International. The Transportation Association of Canada's Geometric Design Guide is the basis for Alberta Transportation's design standards.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Table 5

The only way that statement is true is if they are 100% funding it themselves.

Good luck trying to get public funding though without releasing details about the location and scope.

Getting the public to buy into the vision is probably one of their more effective tools.

I would bet, the Flames have been in the process of discussing funds from the Government for a lengthy time.....

[Table 5]

I kind of wish we just adopted whatever standards/design guidelines the EU uses. You go to some of the poorest European countries and they all have really well designed highways/bridges/signage etc that is clearly part of some bigger-picture guideline that seems to work quite well.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I kind of wish we just adopted whatever standards/design guidelines the EU uses. You go to some of the poorest European countries and they all have really well designed highways/bridges/signage etc that is clearly part of some bigger-picture guideline that seems to work quite well.

This would be great. But lots of EU member nations are broke for a reason.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by heep223

This would be great. But lots of EU member nations are broke for a reason.

A reason ... but probably not road signage and construction standards.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by heep223

This would be great. But lots of EU member nations are broke for a reason.

Drats, you mean we can't just have the Germans pay for everything too?

I wish as a country we at least made sure the Trans Canada was world-class from coast to coast. It's embarrassingly bad most of the way.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by nik-

A reason ... but probably not road signage and construction standards.

Historically overbuilt infrastructure certainly contributes to the fact that Southern European countries are fiscal disasters.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I wish as a country we at least made sure the Trans Canada was world-class from coast to coast. It's embarrassingly bad most of the way.

So true. Not only embarrassing but also dangerous.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Mazrim

- Design standards for roads were way different in the 1970s than they were in the 90s-00s. Things like left entrances and cloverleafs were all the rage 40 years ago, and they are both frowned upon in design now.

- Deerfoot and Stoney are designed to Canadian standards, not International. The Transportation Association of Canada's Geometric Design Guide is the basis for Alberta Transportation's design standards.

I don't know anything about the design standards but, in my opinion, there are still a lot of piss poor design decisions being made on interchanges in Calgary. Stoney Trail and Crowchild Trail are a good example of poor design. NB Stoney onto WB Crowchild and SB Stoney onto EB Crowchild have stupid designs and they feed vehicles into a short exit lane which is used for vehicles to exit from Crowchild onto Stoney trail. These interchanges should never feed vehicles into a lane that is used as an exit ramp.

Stoney and Nose Hill looks strange to me when I look at the plan/map but maybe it will be a good design.

The complex, monstrosity that has been proposed for the SW ring road at Sarcee/Glenmore/Ring Road looks pretty brutal as well.

[BACKCHECK!!!]

I currently live in a city where every highway intersection, on-ramp, and off-ramp, all follow the exact same layout.

It's driving heaven.

You don't need to re-invent the ****ing wheel every damn time you build an intersection. There are only so many ways two roads can cross one another.

Edited to add: there is also a place to u-turn at every on- and off-ramp, so if you miss your exit you're not stuck in traffic for 45 minutes.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Drats, you mean we can't just have the Germans pay for everything too?

I wish as a country we at least made sure the Trans Canada was world-class from coast to coast. It's embarrassingly bad most of the way.

It is pretty sad that every single American interstate is a better road than our one national highway.

[Magnum PEI]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

That, and hearing the same voice every time I tried to get on or off the Deerfoot between Blackfoot and McKnight.

At one point in the 1970s, I read an article in the Herald about the design of this wonderful new freeway, which stressed the point that all the interchanges had been designed by the city's own engineering staff. It seemed pretty clear to me that these were the same geniuses who did the Bow/Crow No-Flow, a.k.a. Malfunction Junction. For one thing, they liked to break the standard rules of interchange design in the same ways, such as having on-ramps enter from the left, and having through lanes suddenly turn into exits. And my personal favourite, putting multiple stoplights smack in the middle of a multi-level interchange.

By contrast, all the interchanges on Stoney Trail, and on the new section of Deerfoot (south of 22X), were built by the provincial government, and built to international engineering standards. The contrast is breathtaking. If I get to drive on Stoney Trail whilst running errands, and then have to take Malfunction Junction to get home to Bankview, it brings tears to my eyes and $*@&! to my lips.

Usually they give you a free lane when that happens, but the SB Crowchild to EB Memorial ramp is a merge! I think it's the only merge from the left in the city (could be wrong about that). First time I took that route I was blown away.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by BACKCHECK!!!

I currently live in a city where every highway intersection, on-ramp, and off-ramp, all follow the exact same layout.

It's driving heaven.

You don't need to re-invent the ****ing wheel every damn time you build an intersection. There are only so many ways two roads can cross one another.

Edited to add: there is also a place to u-turn at every on- and off-ramp, so if you miss your exit you're not stuck in traffic for 45 minutes.

I REALLY wish our road engineers would take a page out of their American counterparts book on road building.

Driving through LA on a road trip and my g/f and I used the HOV lanes frequently. They are on the left side of the road and I was getting concerned that I'd have to fight my way through 5 lanes of traffic to get to the upcoming off ramp.

Oh wait! What's this? The HOV lane has it's own freakin off ramp??
BRILLIANT!!

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by nik-

It is pretty sad that every single American interstate is a better road than our one national highway.

True. But you get what you pay for. More money on infrastructure means higher taxes, or less spending on health care and education.