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  1. Highway 8
    Reconstruction and Widening: Grand River to 401
    Public Information Centre: PDF (Pages 27-30)

    2. #1
    UrbanWaterloo
    03-01-2010 07:51 PM
  2. Haljackey's Avatar
    From London, Ontario | Member Since Nov 2010 | 35 Posts
    #41
    03-01-2011 11:06 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by Haljackey

    ...building the full T-interchange with Highway 401...

    Unless that is a different project. I hate coming into K/W from London... I'm jealous that there's a high-speed flyover ramp to 401 eastbound but you gotta go through sets of stoplights in big-box-ville to reach 401 westbound.
    Quote Originally Posted by Waterlooer
    I don't think that's part of the plans but they should do that.
    I remember seeing plans for this somewhere but I'm scratching my head as to where... Perhaps someone more familiar with the project can enlighten us.


    Quote Originally Posted by Urbanomicon
    I just wish they would properly label them as Collectors/Express.
    I believe you need at least 3 exits for it to be labeled a collector-express system. Although they could be labeled something different like local lanes or a collector-distributor configuration.
  3. Urbanomicon's Avatar
    From Kitchener, Ontario | Member Since Feb 2010 | 981 Posts
    #42
    03-02-2011 11:56 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by Haljackey
    I remember seeing plans for this somewhere but I'm scratching my head as to where... Perhaps someone more familiar with the project can enlighten us.
    http://www.wonderfulwaterloo.com/sho...-8-Interchange
    "Only the insane have the strength enough to prosper. Only those that prosper may truly judge what is sane."

  4. This Member Says Thank You:
    Haljackey

  5. Haljackey's Avatar
    From London, Ontario | Member Since Nov 2010 | 35 Posts
    #43
    03-02-2011 03:48 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by Urbanomicon
    http://www.wonderfulwaterloo.com/sho...-8-Interchange
    Ah that's exactly what I was requesting. Thanks a lot Urbanomicon!

    MTO's preferred plan; taken by Duke-Of-Waterloo


    Any idea when this will be done? I checked that thread but didn't find a firm date. 2017 is still lingering in my mind but I'm not sure if it's right.
  6. Urbanomicon's Avatar
    From Kitchener, Ontario | Member Since Feb 2010 | 981 Posts
    #44
    03-02-2011 10:14 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by Haljackey
    Any idea when this will be done? I checked that thread but didn't find a firm date. 2017 is still lingering in my mind but I'm not sure if it's right.
    The last word from MTO was that the planning/EA etc. was completed for it, it only needs funding; however, they also pointed out that no funds were allocated to the project in their 5 year funding schedule. That's where the 2017ish number comes from.
    "Only the insane have the strength enough to prosper. Only those that prosper may truly judge what is sane."
  7. Spokes's Avatar
    From Kitchener | Member Since Dec 2009 | 4,277 Posts
    #45
    03-02-2011 10:27 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by Urbanomicon
    The last word from MTO was that the planning/EA etc. was completed for it, it only needs funding; however, they also pointed out that no funds were allocated to the project in their 5 year funding schedule. That's where the 2017ish number comes from.
    I think theyre probably not even considering it right now given that the rest of hwy 8 isn't finished, and how long that it's taken.
  8. UrbanWaterloo's Avatar
    From Kitchener-Waterloo | Member Since Dec 2009 | 5,677 Posts
    #46
    10-05-2011 06:26 PM
    Heading south from the Fairway Road exit to the 401. Sorry the photos aren't great, the window on the iXpress was a bit dirty and I got some reflection.

    October 5, 2011









    Grand River






    King Street East / 401 West London Exit
















    Sportsworld Drive / Maple Grove Road Exit












    Ramp over the 401

  9. This Member Says Thank You:
    Waterlooer

  10. Member Since Nov 2010 | 43 Posts
    #47
    10-06-2011 09:59 AM
    Thanks for the photos, sadly they don't show anything new

    Can they take any longer (sarcasm).....
  11. Member Since Jul 2010 | 1,319 Posts
    #48
    10-06-2011 10:01 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by jerryhung
    Thanks for the photos, sadly they don't show anything new
    Actually they removed most of the concrete barriers on the southbound lane. I'm pretty sure this part will be three lane very soon, quite possibly by Tuesday.
  12. Urbanomicon's Avatar
    From Kitchener, Ontario | Member Since Feb 2010 | 981 Posts
    #49
    10-06-2011 11:55 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by BuildingScout
    Actually they removed most of the concrete barriers on the southbound lane. I'm pretty sure this part will be three lane very soon, quite possibly by Tuesday.
    It was stated in a previous Record article, which I can't find anymore, that they will be opening all of the new lanes at the same time. So we will be stuck with two lanes in each direction until the whole project is completed. Unless of course they have changed their minds.
    "Only the insane have the strength enough to prosper. Only those that prosper may truly judge what is sane."
  13. From Waterloo | Member Since Jan 2011 | 22 Posts
    #50
    10-07-2011 06:44 PM
    I thought I remember reading that they will be opening all the lanes by winter (as soon as the bridges are finished, only northbound King St and Grand River remain) and then they will close them again in the Spring to finish. I'm going to try and find the article....
  14. From Cambridge, Ontario, Canada | Member Since Aug 2010 | 14 Posts
    #51
    10-24-2011 06:10 PM
    They opened the road to 4 lanes EB from Fairway to the King Street exit. Things were flying through there today!

  15. This Member Says Thank You:
    Waterlooer

  16. Waterlooer's Avatar
    From Waterloo, ON | Member Since Apr 2010 | 837 Posts
    #52
    10-24-2011 06:26 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by boatracer
    They opened the road to 4 lanes EB from Fairway to the King Street exit. Things were flying through there today!
    Awesome!!
    Visit my Youth Blog: wonderfulwaterloo.com/youth & email me at: youth@wonderfulwaterloo.com
  17. From Kitchener | Member Since Oct 2010 | 790 Posts
    #53
    10-24-2011 07:32 PM
    Wow! I noticed on Sunday that the barrier was taken down, but I assumed the worst.
  18. Urbanomicon's Avatar
    From Kitchener, Ontario | Member Since Feb 2010 | 981 Posts
    #54
    10-24-2011 11:22 PM
    They opened the road to 4 lanes EB from Fairway to the King Street exit. Things were flying through there today!
    "Only the insane have the strength enough to prosper. Only those that prosper may truly judge what is sane."
  19. Member Since Nov 2010 | 43 Posts
    #55
    11-05-2011 04:41 PM
    From The Record
    http://www.therecord.com/opinion/col...highways-widen

    All four eastbound lanes are now open on Highway 8 between Kitchener and Cambridge. By late November, three westbound lanes should be open from Sportsworld Drive to west of the Grand River. However, the planned fourth (outer) lane will stay closed this winter to complete work on the bridge over the Grand.
    Highway 8 expansion concludes next year with final paving, gravel placement along the shoulders and final bridge work. The project cost $87 million.

    ....

    All this expansion is regrettably overdue. Planning documents show Highway 8 was originally supposed to be widened by last year. Highway 7/8 widening was originally planned to conclude by 2013.
  20. Haljackey's Avatar
    From London, Ontario | Member Since Nov 2010 | 35 Posts
    #56
    12-06-2011 12:03 AM
    From asphaltplanet.ca

    Name: 8_cl_122_west.jpg Views: 269 Size: 72.4 KB

    Name: 8_cl_122_west_Sep11_w_lg.jpg Views: 272 Size: 265.8 KB

    Quite a change.

  21. This Member Says Thank You:
    Waterlooer

  22. From Waterloo, ON | Member Since Jan 2010 | 1,975 Posts
    #57
    12-06-2011 12:51 AM
    I hate how Ontario seems not to know that there is such a thing as a "cat's eye" that you can install along a lane marker to make it more visible at night. Or at least - why doesn't it use more reflective paint for the lane markers?

    Driving along this section of Highway 8 last night in the rain it took all my effort to figure out where the lanes actually were, and to distinguish the current lane markers from the previous lane markers. Somehow U.S. interstates don't have such a problem.

    (It is conceivable that this is a deliberate omission, i.e. that this way people go slower in the rain and are safer overall. I don't know whether this would be true.)
  23. Member Since Mar 2010 | 926 Posts
    #58
    12-06-2011 08:51 AM
    I hate driving in the rain at night, especially with streetlights around. Those just make it worse because they make the wet road shine. You REALLY can't see the lines then!
  24. From Kitchener | Member Since Oct 2010 | 790 Posts
    #59
    12-06-2011 10:07 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by mpd618
    I hate how Ontario seems not to know that there is such a thing as a "cat's eye" that you can install along a lane marker to make it more visible at night. Or at least - why doesn't it use more reflective paint for the lane markers?
    The reason they don't have these is because they don't play nice with snow plows.

    What you will see occasionally on Ontario highways, are reflectors that are dug into the lane markings. These are entirely below the level of the pavement, and snow plows can go right over them without issue. Of course, digging a little hole is more effort then bolting in a cat's eye, so it is likely more expensive. I think they are generally used on 2 lane highways, since those are the ones that demand the safety factor even more.
  25. From Waterloo, ON | Member Since Jan 2010 | 1,975 Posts
    #60
    12-06-2011 12:10 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by markster
    What you will see occasionally on Ontario highways, are reflectors that are dug into the lane markings. These are entirely below the level of the pavement, and snow plows can go right over them without issue. Of course, digging a little hole is more effort then bolting in a cat's eye, so it is likely more expensive. I think they are generally used on 2 lane highways, since those are the ones that demand the safety factor even more.
    These may be what I'm thinking of, as they are found on highways in places like Upstate New York which definitely see snow.
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