My annual Trans Canada Hiway rant

[Cowperson]

Isn't the Trans-Canada just a conglomeration of regional roads spliced together rather than a specific national dream, defined and engaged?

I haven't driven it, but I think the long section of the Trans-Canada through eastern Ontario, over the Canadian shield, is also two lane for the most part isn't it?

Actually, if we thought about it, most of the Trans-Canada would probably be two lanes, or am I out of line saying that?

I hate driving that Golden stretch as well . . . . rode my bicycle through there once as well!!

Cowperson

[Buzzard]

There's actually a few billboards (as I'm sure anyone who's travelled #1 west have seen) along the road advertising this website promoting the reconstruction of the Trans Can between Golden and Kamloops.

http://fixtranscanada.org/index.html

[Hakan]

Wah wah wah!!

Jesus, I drive the trans canada between Vancouver and Calgary twice a year, at least and I have no problems with it. There's a little thing called patience. For the most part, the road runs smooth and great. Am I the only one that would see a problem with a massive 4+ lane super highway bisecting our beautiful mountain regions and all the ecological damages that would ensue just so flakes can get the Vancouver a half hour earlier?

Please.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally posted by Hakan@Jul 18 2005, 04:49 PM
Wah wah wah!!

Jesus, I drive the trans canada between Vancouver and Calgary twice a year, at least and I have no problems with it. There's a little thing called patience. For the most part, the road runs smooth and great. Am I the only one that would see a problem with a massive 4+ lane super highway bisecting our beautiful mountain regions and all the ecological damages that would ensue just so flakes can get the Vancouver a half hour earlier?

Please.

Yeah, launching some semi-trucks off those steep banks and into this pristine rivers doesn't do any environmental damage either I suppose. Forcing people to make extra stops in this pristine mountains to dispose of waste also only helps the environment too. If you want Canada to implement a zero or negative growth (like the city of Vancouver is currently trying to do) policy for the future than your ideal works perfect. For how many hectares of mountain and forest an extra two lanes of highway is going to overtake I think we can spare the land.

But if you want to be able to allow for growth and the ability to move goods than I think an upgraded road is a requirement. The road can't handle today's traffic, and the traffic load is only going to increase over the next 20 years. Sure we could keep a bad highway if we could implement and get the public to accept a train system like they use in Europe and use the hi-way for commercial traffic, but somehow I don't see that happening, or costing any less.

This isn't about me wanting to cut down the time it takes me to get from Calgary to Vancouver as it is about our abitlity to mobilize and transport goods as a country. If I need to get to Vancouver and time is that much of an issue, I can fly thats no big deal. In Ontario and East you have the St.Lawrence Sea way and great lakes system as a means of shipping mass amounts of goods as far inland as Thunder Bay. Of course if politicians ever had to drive these hi-ways in Ontario and B.C. I imagine they'd want 4 lane hi-ways too.

[Cheese]

Originally posted by Cowperson@Jul 18 2005, 12:16 PM
Isn't the Trans-Canada just a conglomeration of regional roads spliced together rather than a specific national dream, defined and engaged?

I haven't driven it, but I think the long section of the Trans-Canada through eastern Ontario, over the Canadian shield, is also two lane for the most part isn't it?

Actually, if we thought about it, most of the Trans-Canada would probably be two lanes, or am I out of line saying that?

I hate driving that Golden stretch as well . . . . rode my bicycle through there once as well!!

Cowperson

yep your right....from Manitobas eastern border across most of N Ontario its 2 lanes right thru the sheild. One of the most beautiful drives in Canada...paralleled only by the hiway thru BC.
And to Snakeeye above who said ...IF it was in Toronto or Onatrio theyd have fixed it already...cmon over and spend a few days/years on the 401. Youll be singing a different song.

[BlackRedGold25]

Originally posted by Cheese@Jul 18 2005, 07:09 PM
And to Snakeeye above who said ...IF it was in Toronto or Onatrio theyd have fixed it already...cmon over and spend a few days/years on the 401. Youll be singing a different song.

With the 401 are you referring to the killer stretch not far from London? Or just anywhere outside of Toronto?

[blackgold]

If you want to see bad highways, check out Kenya. You need a moon rover to navigate those roads.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally posted by blackgold@Jul 18 2005, 11:51 PM
If you want to see bad highways, check out Kenya. You need a moon rover to navigate those roads.

Well I haven't seen the hi-ways in Kenya, so I'll take your word for it. Besides would an African Safari be as memorable if you're watching out the window of an H2 on a paved freeway? But I imagine money is a serious issue in a place like Kenya. In Canada money shouldn't be an issue.

[Looger]

Originally posted by Sylvanfan@Jul 18 2005, 03:26 PM
A tree saved my life by goat creek just outside of McBride one night when I hit some black ice on a bridge deck and launched myself off the road.

i think i know that EXACT spot. i always take it easy right there, exccept when i need to speed up to avoid being on one of those bridges with an oncoming semi at the same time, now that is an experience that will put some hair on your ass.

let me guess, you would have flown off the south side of the road, right?

last winter the PG area was positively abysmal, it rained from late december through january - though the ground was still icy.

skating rink!

wet ice, oh. my. god. hills and corners, ice and water. i'm surprised we still have some drivers alive.

i was in kelowna for christmas and from clinton to quesnel on the way back (hwy 97) , i never passed 50 kph.

darn rwd limited-slip cars, they will be the death of me!

many drivers driving front-wheel-drives on that road oversped without realizing, and couldn't recover. common problem - at least with rear-drive you are aware the instant that you step over the line.

as for the topic at hand, i've met people from kenya and tanzania that are in total disbelief at what we refer to as 4x4's - without fully decked out land rovers (and not the ones we have) you'd never make it, i hear.

point of fact i recall a calgary sun article some 8 years back that featured a calgary couple that imported true-blue african 4x4's, i think mercedes and land rover units that were sold at dealerships in east africa. the prices were cheaper than many of the junkmobiles people roll off the lots with here, and i'd bet it would kick the crap out of said junk on the trails. i wonder if they're still in business...

the trans-canada needs some work. maybe the provinces should get together at the next provincial summit and force the issue with cash, who knows, but man, it hasd to be done.

the interstates in sparsely populated states are such a cut above, it is kind of embarrassing.

[Sylvanfan]

i think i know that EXACT spot. i always take it easy right there, exccept when i need to speed up to avoid being on one of those bridges with an oncoming semi at the same time, now that is an experience that will put some hair on your ass.

let me guess, you would have flown off the south side of the road, right?

last winter the PG area was positively abysmal, it rained from late december through january - though the ground was still icy.

skating rink!

Sounds like you have it bang on. But heres the twist, I was heading towards P.G. at the time. Got out in Valemont to get some gas and it still seemed pretty warm outside at about 6:30PM in the month of November. Outside of McBride it starts looking a little greasy so I slow it down. But with no temperature gage to let me know what the temperature is I assume it can't be that cold yet. But when I hit the bridge deck the front end on my VW GTI cut loose on me, and I overcorrected and than I was in a full spin finally launching off missing the guardrail by like 2 feet. In hindsight I should have just let the car smack into the rock face as it would have been the safer way to go. But I was really fortunate to walk away with nothing more than a bruised ego from that one.
At Christmas I had to drive the wife to Prince Rupert to see her folks and the roads were that scary winter icy glaze from McBride all the way to Terace. Coming back we hit snow at the summit outside of Rupert and dealt with it the whole way home. It took me two days for my neck to finally feel normal after being stressed out that much from that drive. I always tell myself after these trips that I'm not driving anywhere ever again, but I always get sucked into taking one more trip. One day I'll figure out that my wife's complaining crying and nagging won't kill me (only make me flat broke ), but the hi-ways in this country likely will.

[jonesy]

Originally posted by Cowperson@Jul 18 2005, 04:16 PM
Isn't the Trans-Canada just a conglomeration of regional roads spliced together rather than a specific national dream, defined and engaged?

I haven't driven it, but I think the long section of the Trans-Canada through eastern Ontario, over the Canadian shield, is also two lane for the most part isn't it?

Actually, if we thought about it, most of the Trans-Canada would probably be two lanes, or am I out of line saying that?

I hate driving that Golden stretch as well . . . . rode my bicycle through there once as well!!

Cowperson

What, your unicycle was in the shop?

[HOZ]

Originally posted by Cowperson@Jul 18 2005, 04:00 PM
Isn't the Trans-Canada just a conglomeration of regional roads spliced together rather than a specific national dream, defined and engaged?

I haven't driven it, but I think the long section of the Trans-Canada through eastern Ontario, over the Canadian shield, is also two lane for the most part isn't it?

Actually, if we thought about it, most of the Trans-Canada would probably be two lanes, or am I out of line saying that?

I hate driving that Golden stretch as well . . . . rode my bicycle through there once as well!!

Cowperson

Why don't we annex that part of BC. They can't afford it and they need the money for the Olympics. Move the Alberta boarder 300KM (400KM?) west and twin it!

[Sylvanfan]

Originally posted by HOZ+Jul 19 2005, 10:28 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (HOZ @ Jul 19 2005, 10:28 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Cowperson@Jul 18 2005, 04:00 PM
Isn't the Trans-Canada just a conglomeration of regional roads spliced together rather than a specific national dream, defined and engaged?

I haven't driven it, but I think the long section of the Trans-Canada through eastern Ontario, over the Canadian shield, is also two lane for the most part isn't it?

Actually, if we thought about it, most of the Trans-Canada would probably be two lanes, or am I out of line saying that?

I hate driving that Golden stretch as well . . . . rode my bicycle through there once as well!!

Cowperson

Why don't we annex that part of BC. They can't afford it and they need the money for the Olympics. Move the Alberta boarder 300KM (400KM?) west and twin it! [/b][/quote]
Well 400km might be pushing it. But they'd probably give up the first 200. Besides all the best land in that area of the province is owned or supported by Albertans anyways!!

[Looger]

Originally posted by HOZ@Jul 19 2005, 10:28 PM
Why don't we annex that part of BC. They can't afford it and they need the money for the Olympics. Move the Alberta boarder 300KM (400KM?) west and twin it!

funny story...

peace river area's economy, from ft. st. john to fort nelson, is totally integrated with alberta's, even has the same time zone!

[Incinerator]

Originally posted by Reaper@Jul 18 2005, 02:31 AM
I love how people are claiming that the road through Roger's Pass and Crowsnest Pass kills people when the majority of accidents in those areas are caused by driving too fast for road conditions.

The road didn't kill the people; the people killed themselves by driving too fast, following too close or not paying due attention.

No kidding, roads don't kill people, incompetent drivers who don't know have the proper skills to go on highways kill people, couldn't have said it better myself. I've driven the Rogers pass numerous times and never found it to be a problem. If you want to see a bad stretch of highway in BC, try driving to Tofino on the Pacific Rim highway.

[Hakan]

Originally posted by Incinerator+Jul 20 2005, 08:47 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Incinerator @ Jul 20 2005, 08:47 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Reaper@Jul 18 2005, 02:31 AM
I love how people are claiming that the road through Roger's Pass and Crowsnest Pass kills people when the majority of accidents in those areas are caused by driving too fast for road conditions.

The road didn't kill the people; the people killed themselves by driving too fast, following too close or not paying due attention.

No kidding, roads don't kill people, incompetent drivers who don't know have the proper skills to go on highways kill people, couldn't have said it better myself. I've driven the Rogers pass numerous times and never found it to be a problem. If you want to see a bad stretch of highway in BC, try driving to Tofino on the Pacific Rim highway. [/b][/quote]
Exactly.

People out in Vancouver are constantly complaining about how 'dangerous' the sea to sky highway out to Whistler is. They're spending over a billion dollars to blast into the mountain and make a giant 4 lane road to improve safety among other things. The funny thing is that the morons who drive that road drive way too fast. That highway isn't that dangerous at all provided you drive accordingly. But no, we have to get there at 110km/h otherwise it's an 'unsafe' road.

[Sylvanfan]

Yeah, well try to slow down the pace of our society and create more time for everyone. If you can do that, I guarantee you will become the wealthiest person on this planet 10X over. Yes some people drive incompetantly, but it affects other innocent people on the road who suffer the consequences of the mistakes of other people. A 4 lane hi-way would be safer, and would take a lot of pressure off a lot of owner operators who drive transport trailers over that road 2 times a week. If you seriously expect everyone else on the fataing planet to come around to YOUR way of thiking, well you'll spend the rest of your life being p*ssed off cause IT AIN'T HAPPENING PRINCESS. But hey since you're so patient and such a great driver and have solved the countries transportation problems I'll give you a gold star. Feel better?

[Hakan]

So let me get this straight. We should be spending billions of dollars on highways to placate the moronic unsafe drivers because that's how almost everyone is and people who disagree with that should just shut up and accept it? As per tractor trailers, we should be regulating that industry more not building giant monuments to a horribly unsafe good delivery method. Truck drivers should have a maximum driving time per day and a maximum speed limit that is monitored. In Germany, for instance, there's an on board speed recorder which policy and scales can look at to make sure the truck wasn't speeding. Also, truck drivers should be paid better. That's a whole other can of worms. The idea of building giant highways to make everything safer is preposterous.

Wow, I'm struck by the animosity in your post. Maybe you should take some of that energy and direct it at the unsafe drivers not the 'unsafe' highways.

[Cheese]

Originally posted by BlackRedGold25+Jul 18 2005, 06:45 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (BlackRedGold25 @ Jul 18 2005, 06:45 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Cheese@Jul 18 2005, 07:09 PM
And to Snakeeye above who said ...IF it was in Toronto or Onatrio theyd have fixed it already...cmon over and spend a few days/years on the 401. Youll be singing a different song.

With the 401 are you referring to the killer stretch not far from London? Or just anywhere outside of Toronto? [/b][/quote]
the main section across the top of Toronto is a disaster. There are pot holes the size of moon craters and other assorted disasters always awaiting the driver.
The 401 outside of the core is somewhat better...for a straight hiway...but it is always in a state of flux due to the traffic.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally posted by Cheese+Jul 20 2005, 06:46 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Cheese @ Jul 20 2005, 06:46 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>

With the 401 are you referring to the killer stretch not far from London? Or just anywhere outside of Toronto?

the main section across the top of Toronto is a disaster. There are pot holes the size of moon craters and other assorted disasters always awaiting the driver.
The 401 outside of the core is somewhat better...for a straight hiway...but it is always in a state of flux due to the traffic. [/b][/quote]
Well I don't live in the region, but one thing I've always heard about the 401 is that they're always trying to build it up to suit the CURRENT traffic demands. Of course the volume of traffic is always increasing on the road so when projects are complete the road is still not up to date. Add in that the traffic volume is so heavy that it can't afford down times at peak hours to help improve it. Than you get the whole energy being spent to try and handle more traffic, but they forget to maintain what road they do have. Unfortunately it's probably at a point there where it can't be fixed properly, or that no one will ever come in and figure out the right solution, and be able to pay for it.