Mind Blowing Freeway Pic

[Batman Can]

401 Toronto :runaway:

http://www.onthighways.com/hwy_401_images/401_cl_346_east.jpg

[redstone]

I really don't find what's so mind blowing about it.

[Gil]

The photo is actually taken in Mississauga immediately west of Toronto. If you see the area just below the upper-left-hand corner you'll see where the Air France plane skidded off the runway back in August.

This is probably considered "light" traffic. You should see what this highway is like during rush hour and/or during construction and/or an accident. Imagine 10 lanes in one direction all crawling at a snail's pace! You can see why it ranks as either #1 or #2 busiest highway in North America (competing neck and neck with LA's Santa Monica Freeway)!

[Jaye101]

But by the airport there is no collector/express... but wait? There are no high beams. meaning it is by the airport. I dont beleive the 401 crossed over the 427 as yet though, concluding that it is Toronto.

[Hillis]

It's Mississauga.

[Kev the burninator]

What's mind blowing is the amount of lanes(18) and i've heard that the 401 can look like one huge parking lot at times.... that would be crazy to see, not fun to be in.

[great prairie]

maybe toronto should widen other freeways.....

[Jaye101]

^^^ What other freeways? hahaha The funny thing is that no other freeway runs in the same direction as the 401, and we only have two north-south freeways dvp-404, and 427.

"It's Mississauga."

I thought the picture was looking west not east.

[James Foong]

do u hv more mind-blowing pics of 401? That pic though mind blowing but still not enough to convince me.

[great prairie]

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/3781/loverslanestation29km.jpg

[sonysnob]

But by the airport there is no collector/express... but wait? There are no high beams. meaning it is by the airport. I dont beleive the 401 crossed over the 427 as yet though, concluding that it is Toronto.

I took this picture, it is taken looking east from the Dixie Road overpass in Mississauga in the summer of 2004.

Cheers.

[Batman Can]

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/3781/loverslanestation29km.jpg


What about it??? Those higher roads don't even look like they are part of the highway, just some weird on/off ramp slash road. The real amazing thing about the 401 is the length it goes on being so big also, this thing is probably some short distance highway at that width.

[great prairie]

they are service roads which only occur heavily in Texas

this thing is probably some short distance highway at that width.

what?

except for being wide what is so special about the 401?

[PotatoGuy]

except for being wide what is so special about the 401?

haha yeah, i think the canadians made it the only freeway going in that direction so that they could have something to rant about, stupid idea really, why dont they just make more freeways going in that direction. everyone knows that when freeways become wide after a certain point each lane added makes things slower rather than faster.

[PotatoGuy]

and that pic is not mind blowing, look at all that waste of space between the dividers!

[Facial]

Good freeway pic. The size is enormous.

We have a few good-sized ones here in LA as well.

[Hillis]

haha yeah, i think the canadians made it the only freeway going in that direction so that they could have something to rant about, stupid idea really, why dont they just make more freeways going in that direction. everyone knows that when freeways become wide after a certain point each lane added makes things slower rather than faster.
Yeah, you know your an asshole when...

[PotatoGuy]

dude, consider it, it makes sense... more lanes means more merging between lanes, merging makes it slower, i read it in some newspaper (they were talkn about an expansion of the 22 freeway here) I think it was 14 or 16 lanes, that after that each lane you added was as if you were taking one away, it made things worse

[DrJoe]

except for being wide what is so special about the 401?


Well it is the busiest freeway in North America, probably the world. As far as highways go that is pretty "special".


and that pic is not mind blowing, look at all that waste of space between the dividers!

This comment makes no sense at all. They are emergency lanes and shoulders, you can't have 10 lanes each direction with only 1 divider.

[get13]

That 401 picture at the top of this thread reminds me of the M8 in Glasgow(Which in my opinion is more spectacular than the 401 and is as spectacular as a road can be ;) )

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y18/Get13/m81.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y18/Get13/m815.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y18/Get13/m816.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y18/Get13/m818.jpg

[sbarn]

This is more mindblowing than anything I've seen here...

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/5099/050923traffichmed4a5qp.jpg

[DrJoe]

those cheaters are driving along the shoulders though, lol

[sbarn]

^^ Those "cheaters" are trying to escape a hurricane, einstein.

[DrJoe]

uh thanks but I was already aware.

[rt_0891]

People are forgetting about ETR 407, another East-West route just North of Toronto.

[DrJoe]

That 401 picture at the top of this thread reminds me of the M8 in Glasgow(Which in my opinion is more spectacular than the 401 and is as spectacular as a road can be ;) )

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y18/Get13/m81.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y18/Get13/m815.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y18/Get13/m816.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y18/Get13/m818.jpg

This thing is only 12 lanes wide, has flimsy little guard rails, lacks safety lanes and shoulders in some spots. Infact I'd go as far to say this wouldnt even be allowed to be built in many North American jurisdictions.

[staff]

Well, European motorways are generally much, much better than North American ones.
That Glasgow piece looks a bit twisted though..

[cncity]

the M8 freeway looks fine.. but its in no way better than 401... 401 is Huge..

[sonysnob]

do u hv more mind-blowing pics of 401? That pic though mind blowing but still not enough to convince me.

www.OntHighways.com/highway_401.htm (http://www.OntHighways.com/highway_401.htm) for more pictures of the 401. The 'mind blowing' pictures are located in the Guelph to Toronto, and Toronto to Cobourg Galleries.

Cheers

[James Foong]

Thanks alot!

[sonysnob]

That 401 picture at the top of this thread reminds me of the M8 in Glasgow(Which in my opinion is more spectacular than the 401 and is as spectacular as a road can be ;) )

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y18/Get13/m81.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y18/Get13/m815.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y18/Get13/m816.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y18/Get13/m818.jpg

Thats an interesting looking freeway. I have to say its kind of funny to see such large use of 'box-beam' type guardrail. (That's what its called in Ontario at least). Box-beam was used fairly extensively on Ontario freeways in the 1970s and 80s. In the mid-1980s the box-beam design came out of favour, as a stretch in Ontario had become to brittle over the winter months and failed. This lead to the development of other types of barriers, and eventually Ontario tall-wall which has become the favoured barrier in this juristiction.

Personally, from an asthetic perspective I really like the box-beam barrier, but unfortunately, its just not a very safe barrier. I sencerely hope that box-beam is not extensively used in England and has been abandoned for a much safer (typically concrete) barrier.

Cheers.

[DrJoe]

^ That box beam stuff is the same that they have between Whitby and Ajax and frankly if a car hit it I could see it doing more bad than good throwing some high speed projectiles in the air. You would be the guy to ask so do you know if they plan on replacing that stretch???

[sonysnob]

^ That box beam stuff is the same that they have between Whitby and Ajax and frankly if a car hit it I could see it doing more bad than good throwing some high speed projectiles in the air. You would be the guy to ask so do you know if they plan on replacing that stretch???

There are no plans on the books yet to replace the box-beam in Durham Region, but its definately going to happen. The MTO has completed the preliminary designs to widen the 401 through Durham (as far east as Park Road), and you can bet these projects will involve the replacement of the box-beam and installation of brand new tall-wall.

Right now, there aren't any definative schedules to widen the 401 through Durham (with the exception of between Westney and Harwood, which is tentatively scheduled for next year). My guess is that the stalling of the 407 (and in turn, the LakeRidge Road connector and interchange) has also stalled further widenings east of Ajax.

Cheers.

[DrJoe]

I see. How many lanes do you figure will end up going to Oshawa when it happens??

[sonysnob]

I see. How many lanes do you figure will end up going to Oshawa when it happens??

Oshawa is going to be a mess, and the MTO knows it. It is by no accident that the prelimary design stage for widening has only progressed as far as Park Road.

Now, with my speculation hat on, I think the MTO will design for at least a cross-section of 10-lanes. A 10-lane cross-section has been proposed from Ajax easterly to Park Road, so its only natural to assume they would want the same through Oshawa.

Cheers.

[Grey Towers]

Here's an artistic pic of the 401 (thanks to DrJoe for the hosting)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v339/drjoe12/401/412509-008.jpg

[sonysnob]

Here's an artistic pic of the 401 (thanks to DrJoe for the hosting)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v339/drjoe12/401/412509-008.jpg

Its almost a shame that this picture is so artistic. Good vintage photos (ie, old steel barrieres, truss lighting, and idealy concrete driving surface) can be quite difficult to find.

Cheers.

[chiccoplease]

Is that photo photoshopped? Because there aren't any visible potholes in it.

[The Boy David]

This thing is only 12 lanes wide, has flimsy little guard rails, lacks safety lanes and shoulders in some spots. Infact I'd go as far to say this wouldnt even be allowed to be built in many North American jurisdictions.
The M8 is 16 lanes wide at its largest, and has a 50mph speed limit as it is cutting through Glasgow. Thus there is absolutely no need for Concrete guard rails - they are a waste of money.

The M8 is the busiest motorway in Europe. It cuts through the heart of "downtown" Glasgow, much like many North American freeways, and has elevated and tunnel sections through the city centre as well. The 10 mile stretch of Motorway that cuts through Glasgow has the highest junction density of any motorway in the World - there are so many junctions it is almost dangerous, and is extremely hard to drive though. (makes it much more fun though :)) The M8 also uses the Kingston Bridge to cross the River Clyde when entering the city centre. It is one of the worlds widest bridges at 10 lanes wide (11 including the service lane) and is the busiest road bridge in Europe. It carries 20 times more traffic than it was designed for.

It's a damn fascinating Motorway, of that there is no doubt. Those pictures posted aren't in very good and don't do the M8 any justice at all. I would post better pictures, but this thread is about the 401, not the M8.


The 401 is huge though!!

Personally, from an asthetic perspective I really like the box-beam barrier, but unfortunately, its just not a very safe barrier. I sencerely hope that box-beam is not extensively used in England and has been abandoned for a much safer (typically concrete) barrier.

Almost the entire of the UK uses box-beam or wire barriers for it's Motorways. There is no need for concrete guards - they cost more and are dangerous to crash into. I honestly don't know why everyone else uses them.

[sonysnob]

The M8 is 16 lanes wide at its largest, and has a 50mph speed limit as it is cutting through Glasgow. Thus there is absolutely no need for Concrete guard rails - they are a waste of money.

If advances in safety are a waste of money, why have barriers at all? Why not just have the narrow strips of grass separating carriageways much like many of the older freeways did at inital construction.


It's a damn fascinating Motorway, of that there is no doubt. Those pictures posted aren't in very good and don't do the M8 any justice at all. I would post better pictures, but this thread is about the 401, not the M8.

I am sure nobody would mind if you posted a few more pictures of the M-8. I am certainly intrigued


Almost the entire of the UK uses box-beam or wire barriers for it's Motorways. There is no need for concrete guards - they cost more and are dangerous to crash into. I honestly don't know why everyone else uses them.

It is unfortunate that your knowledge of barrier technology is so limited. Many juristictions have moved away from box beam because its safety record sucks. It's an expensive barrier to maintain since it can rust, and needs to be replaced everytime it is struck, even in a very minor accident. Concrete, while more expensive inially is much safer (and in actually, are much safer to collide with then steal barriers), and in the long run much cheaper, since it has so much more longevity in a collision.

Cheers.

[Effer]

If you think that picture is mind blowing, than you should come to downtown Chicago!

[9462]

barriers look a mess, then need to put grass in the middle or somethin, anything but them

[Gordon Freeman]

Is that very first pic a photo of the evacuation from Houston?

[Effer]

Is that very first pic a photo of the evacuation from Houston?
That's the first pic on the second page.

[Plumber73]

Not sure if this was answered already, but are there any special lanes on the 401, such as HOV or Bus only? Doesn't look like it.

[DrJoe]

^ nope

If you think that picture is mind blowing, than you should come to downtown Chicago!

Why? This is the busiest highway in North America, it doesnt get anymore "mind blowing" than this.

[KIWIKAAS]

It is unfortunate that your knowledge of barrier technology is so limited. Many juristictions have moved away from box beam because its safety record sucks. It's an expensive barrier to maintain since it can rust, and needs to be replaced everytime it is struck, even in a very minor accident. Concrete, while more expensive inially is much safer (and in actually, are much safer to collide with then steal barriers), and in the long run much cheaper, since it has so much more longevity in a collision.

Cheers.

I have thought about this. Here in Holland they use the box beam for 99%. but you see time and again after an accident that they have to send in a crew to repair it.
I'm not sure what the ''high wall'' is but this is a Canadian designed barrier in Wellington, New Zealand installed in the late 1980s.
http://photos3.flickr.com/3418363_234e7fd147.jpg
Its a steal casing filled with gravel.

[sonysnob]

If you think that picture is mind blowing, than you should come to downtown Chicago!

The 401 was actually modelled after the Dan Ryan. However, many elements of the 401's design were greatly improved on.

Cheers.

[sonysnob]

I have thought about this. Here in Holland they use the box beam for 99%. but you see time and again after an accident that they have to send in a crew to repair it.
I'm not sure what the ''high wall'' is but this is a Canadian designed barrier in Wellington, New Zealand installed in the late 1980s.
http://photos3.flickr.com/3418363_234e7fd147.jpg
Its a steal casing filled with gravel.

I am not really sure when this barrier first materialized in Ontario, though it was used. In fact there is still a short section of the QEW in Burlington with this type of Barrier. The only other Ontario highway that I know had this barrier was Highway 400 in Toronto. I seems that it never took off here.

Cheers.

[The Boy David]

I am sure nobody would mind if you posted a few more pictures of the M-8. I am certainly intrigued
Well here are a selection of pics of the M8. Now before I begin, I must stress that I am NOT claiming that the M8 is either bigger or buiser than the 401.

Driving the M8 is like going back in time. There are many roads, junctions and bridges that were built but never finished because of the death of the Clyde Shipyards and the British economy. It's a strange road, designed to be part of a Ring Road that was never completed, and so is very badly designed. But thats why its interesting.... There is so much variety - the 401 is huge, but its just a straight forward drive along it. As these pictures will show, there is always something going on while you are driving the M8


First off, a nice aerial of the M8 cutting through the city centre of Glasgow. The 10 lane Kingston Bridge is shown bottom left. As you can see the motorway enters a tunnel section at the top left hand side of the pic. Soon to be built are 2 skysrapers that will line the "canyon" effect that the M8 has created. You can clearly see the complexity of the junctions in this part of the motorway. Remember that this is downtown.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y124/the_boy_david/awesomeglasgow.jpg


An aerial shot of part of the city centre. Look at the width of the M8 on the left hand side.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y124/the_boy_david/36803124_70d0742fa4_b_edited.jpg


16 lanes. At one point there are actually 18 lanes of traffic, but it is only for about 400m, so it doesnt really count. At this point, 3 Motorways converge onto the M8

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y124/the_boy_david/16m82.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y124/the_boy_david/16m8.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y124/the_boy_david/manym8.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y124/the_boy_david/curvem8.jpg


The Kingston Bridge and M8 under construction

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y124/the_boy_david/btn1.jpg


The Kingston Bridge when finished in 1960.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y124/the_boy_david/btn2.jpg


A night shot of the Kingston (sorry for the poor quality)

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y124/the_boy_david/31.jpg


Complexity of junctions

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y124/the_boy_david/27020847_2cdb9da4e4_o.jpg


A night shot of the "canyon" in the rain. This is the slimest part of the Motorway because of space restrictions. 2 extra lanes were built each side of the canyon bringing the total number of lanes back to 10.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y124/the_boy_david/M8new1.jpg


Kingston Bridge approach to the city by 2008:

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y124/the_boy_david/Newviewlargeeverything.jpg


The tunnel section. The red office that is over the motorway used to be a bridge, but that section was never finished due to the economic crash at the time. Not to be put to waste, in 1990 the Ministry of Defence used it to build regional headquarters.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y124/the_boy_david/m810.jpg


Part of the elevated section - a ghost ramp that leads to no-where.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y124/the_boy_david/m8.jpg


More Ghost ramps. These can be seen all over Glasgow, a reminder of a different era of planning and economic misfortune.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y124/the_boy_david/ghostramps.jpg


Artistic :)

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y124/the_boy_david/blackandwhite.jpg


So there you have it. What do you guys think? Needless to say, there are many more pictures of the widest parts, but once you have seen a few pictures, there is no real point in posting more

[officedweller]

The Dallas shot is interesting because you can see DART snaking through the cluster of office buildings in the forground.

The Glasgow shots give a good overview of where the docklands buildings (the high tech looking buildings) are located.

[sonysnob]

Those M-8 shots are very interesting. Thanks The Boy David. I particuarly like the ghost ramps, it is neat to see a highway with such an interesting history.

Cheers!

[Martin Ferraro]

Acceso Norte (Buenos Aires-Argentina)
http://www.ausol.com.ar/archivofotografico/FotosGrandes/fotog13.jpg http://www.cstg.com.ar/arg/pics/sec_1_acceso_norte.jpg


Autopista Gral Paz
http://www.ausol.com.ar/Obras/quintoscarriles/autopista.jpg

[canada_habs2004]

another 401 pic showing downtown Toronto in distance
http://img400.imageshack.us/img400/5057/401skyline2ar.jpg

[canada_habs2004]

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/3781/loverslanestation29km.jpg

this picture is funny just because of that mini skyline in the distance.
a lot of smaller cities would kill for a skyline just like that one, but that skyline is just one of the hundreds of Toronto building clusters that no one has even heard of....

[spotila]

uh.. that's not toronto, that's dallas :p

[Cee_em_bee]

LOL, In Sydney theres 3 satellite CBD's with more impressive Skylines then the one above.

[great prairie]

http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/476/03040501g1dy.jpg

http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/8193/30513na9pk.jpg

http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/3305/09170501l5ra.jpg

suburban sydney :|

[redstone]

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/3376/p10203440dm.jpg
Highway interchange in Singapore.

Planters on the sides of the highway flyover to beautify it.

[adidas]

Toronto 401 hgwy

http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/3435/19yh.jpg

[cncity]

LOL, In Sydney theres 3 satellite CBD's with more impressive Skylines then the one above.

show us some pics of the 3 CBD'S in sydney.

[zimna8080]

this picture is funny just because of that mini skyline in the distance.
a lot of smaller cities would kill for a skyline just like that one, but that skyline is just one of the hundreds of Toronto building clusters that no one has even heard of....

What a tacky thing to say.

That photo is of Central Expressway in Dallas. The original freeway was built in the 1950s and ripped out and redone during the 1990s. It's a GREAT urban drive and is below grade with all kinds of architectural flourishes and most freeways around the world can only dream of. The sunken canyon freeway winds between office towers, has a subway/rail system on one side, and goes through some of the funkiest most intersesting neighborhoods in the region. Photos just cannot do this freeway justice.

I've been on Central in Dallas and the 401 (and all of the Toronto area fwys) and Central is much more interesting. Topping off the northern end of Central is a 5 level freeway stack interchange that is a mind boggling 18 stories tall called the "High Five" - the 401 is just like a field. It's not very urban.

It's not a short road, if you stay on Central Expressway (US 75) from Dallas and never get off of it, you will end up in Winnipeg.

(http://web8.3essentials.com/rasaya.com/bork/cntl.jpg) - here is an image, my hotlinking is turned off so I cant post it.

[CrazyCanuck]

Planters on the sides of the highway flyover to beautify it.

That would be a waste in T.O, as everything is dead almost half of the year, and it would be a waste of money to replace them every year.

[great prairie]

More pictures of "suburban sydney"

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/2382/41357gz3ej.jpg

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/5599/41334wy8vn.jpg

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/1628/highfive22lookingne20050411221.jpg

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/4035/75northahres9be.jpg

[KIWIKAAS]

^^^
I think cee em bee wasnt thinking all too clearly or had lost his perception of distance when he made his post. I think he will realise his error.

Nice pics btw.

[zimna8080]

LOL, In Sydney theres 3 satellite CBD's with more impressive Skylines then the one above.

Which ones? I dont remember Parramatta or North Sydney being that impressive, really. (the city centre was awesome, though)

[officedweller]

Came across this elegant interchange from Montreal (St. Laurent) - not a freeway to freeway interchange (the common merge on merge off lane on the upper arterial road would probably prevent use of the same configuration for a freeway to freeway interchange), but quite well done. You can even make an easy U-turn from the freeway:

http://www.globalairphotos.com/images/qc/st._laurent/2002/slh2002_003.jpg

[Cee_em_bee]

More pictures of "suburban sydney"

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/2382/41357gz3ej.jpg

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/5599/41334wy8vn.jpg

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/1628/highfive22lookingne20050411221.jpg

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/4035/75northahres9be.jpg


Yes, those pictures are more impressive then the initial one posted. Very nice.

[Accura4Matalan]

Errr... is that actually Sydney?? :? It doesnt look like it.

[Bartolo]

Its either Houstan or Dalles

[fredcalif]

It is Dallas

[skyscraper17]

no other cities can compare Highway 401 (MC Freeway)

[Martin Ferraro]

Another pic of Acceso Norte
http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/3001/panamerica6gp.jpg

[KGB]

"I've been on Central in Dallas and the 401 (and all of the Toronto area fwys) and Central is much more interesting. the 401 is just like a field. It's not very urban."


Not sure what constitutes "interesting" in your mind???

As for the 401 not being "urban"...well, when it was origionally designed, it was put north of the city (we tend not to ruin our cities by running freeways all through the inner city). But travelling on it through the actual city, considering the amount of built form around it (far more than Dallas), I don't know how you could make that comment...perhaps you were travelling on it out in the countryside??

For an "urban" freeway experience, it's hard to beat the Gardiner snaking right through downtown on it's elevated perch....you can almost literally reach out and touch the buildings. It might be a blight on the downtown, but for sheer skyscraper gazing while driving...it's pretty impressive.

For "pretty", it's hard to beat the DVP.






KGB

[great prairie]

fuckin boosters ^^



But travelling on it through the actual city, considering the amount of built form around it (far more than Dallas), I don't know how you could make that comment...perhaps you were travelling on it out in the countryside??




:|

[DrJoe]

^ Have you driven the 401?? It is significantly lined by highrises for much of its root through Toronto.

[KGB]

"fuckin boosters"


Boosting what?????? I'm not a big fan of highways.

Just offering some evidence contrary to someone's comment.





KGB

[GVNY]

I believe this photograph qualifies as mindblowing:

http://www.bay13.net/pics/desktop/morepictures/dot_cs_los_angeles_3.jpg

[jd_bond]

I believe this photograph qualifies as mindblowing:

http://www.bay13.net/pics/desktop/morepictures/dot_cs_los_angeles_3.jpg


Hate it...

[sportsnet]

i love 401

[DanS10]

mind blowing for all the wrong reasons. cant believe people getting in to this "my freeways bigger than yours" debate

[Avian001]

mind blowing for all the wrong reasons. cant believe people getting in to this "my freeways bigger than yours" debate

Yes, I agree. I think it would actually be rather embarassing for people to see the incredible crap that substitutes for "urbanism" or "world-class-city" or whatever the hell the label-of-the-moment is.

All of these pictures portray a mind-set that is damaging to the idea of a livable city. Yes, gang, let's make bigger, more dense freeways that will even further drain the lifeblood of a modern metropolis.

Let's make OUR infrastructure the best damned killer of a civilized city than any other!

[DrJoe]

The 401 has little of any effect on downtown Toronto, except for some commuters.

[LtBk]

Freeways are going to be build, no matter what.

[Skybean]

TORONTO - 401
http://static.flickr.com/15/20311148_1a898e80d7_b.jpg
That's at least 14 lanes... plus it branches off to the right.
There is a subway line close to those highrises.

[sonysnob]

This picture seemed appropriate for this forum.

Its of the Gardiner (Former QEW) from Islinton Avenue in Etobicoke.

http://img478.imageshack.us/img478/8089/qewcl141east2hk.jpg

[skokster123]

90/94 Dan Ryan & Kennedy Expressway
http://www.interstate-guide.com/images251/i-290_il_et_02.jpg
http://vtguys.tripod.com/roadtrip/day2/IL/02IL14.JPG
http://tigger.uic.edu/depts/ahaa/imagebase/ca/nearwest/maclean/nw-kennedy.jpg
http://www.danryanexpressway.com/images/beforeafter/51st-after2.jpg

Kennedy Expressway (90/94) I-55 to Edens/Kennedy Jct
http://www.interstate-guide.com/images251/i-290_il_et_12.jpg
http://www.divanebros.com/images/services/its/kennedy.jpg
http://images.suntimes.com/photos/images/large_versions/1990s/23-33f.jpg
The Virgin Mary at the Fullerton Exit
http://www.spiritproject.de/horoskop/tag/images/beton_marienbild.jpg

[DrJoe]

90/94 Dan Ryan & Kennedy Expressway
http://tigger.uic.edu/depts/ahaa/imagebase/ca/nearwest/maclean/nw-kennedy.jpg

lol, what a mess. I imagine they regret making all those ramps.

[KIWIKAAS]

That section of the Dan Ryan is a classic. Definitely belongs on the mind blowing hall of fame.

[Andrew]

Freeways are going to be build, no matter what.
Maybe in North America they are because there the car is king but other places have a chance to develop their transport infrastructure in a different way, a more sustainable way. Of course freeways are still going to be built for the time being but always, I don't think so. Eventually that will become impossible.

[Gamble]

The 401 is north america busiest freeway(500 000+ commuters daily) & world largest (16 to 20) lanes + Yonge street crossing it, is the longest street in the world (1,896 kilometres = 1,178 milles)!!!!

http://static.flickr.com/15/20311148_1a898e80d7_b.jpg

[Gamble]

Toronto, GTA, Ontario, Canada, God bless.

[Jaye101]

Almost the entire of the UK uses box-beam or wire barriers for it's Motorways. There is no need for concrete guards - they cost more and are dangerous to crash into. I honestly don't know why everyone else uses them.

Well, if you crash into the guard rail that's your problem. But if you crash into those old metal shits, your ganna be a hundred oncomming car's problems.

[Jaye101]

Younge street

People spelling Eglinton, EGLINGTON!!! People spelling Yonge, YOUNGE!!!

They should have a killing ceremony at city hall. :jk:

[sbarn]

world largest (16 to 20) lanes

I only count 14 lanes in the photo... I don't think I've ever seen a picture of the 20 lane section of 401.

[DrJoe]

^ if you noticed, the lanes merge off making it only 14 lanes, but then right after more lanes merge on. So it is 14 lanes only for that one little section you counted and then right back to 16.

It reaches 20 lanes here towards the bottom, don't know how continuous it is though.

http://www.onthighways.com/hwy_401_images/401_cl_346_west.jpg

[sbarn]

It seems common to count collector ramps as actual lanes on the 401 freeway... which I don't really agree with but whatever. In that case it would seem that the Bay Bridge toll plaza may one of the widest roadways in the world... despite its short distance:

http://pro.corbis.com/images/UG001246.jpg?size=67&uid={bad913c5-cb03-4f49-ab98-7f0fe99718bc}
^^ This picture is only traffic in one direction.

[DrJoe]

^ I dont see where counting the on/off ramps as lanes has happened. In that picture I showed you can't tell where the ramps start or end. Sometimes when the ramp merges with the highway it just keeps going along as a new lane.

[Bertez]

DrJoe, I think that stretch of the 401 covers from the 410 to the 427....

[Andrew]

http://pro.corbis.com/images/UG001246.jpg?size=67&uid={bad913c5-cb03-4f49-ab98-7f0fe99718bc}
Do people seriously think that this kind of thing is good? This is apocolyptic - literally. More of this is one of the worst visions of the future I could envisage. Look at the land area this takes up, think of the fumes going into the atmosphere and into drivers lungs and think of the ammount of fossil fuels that are being wasted by those hundreds of cars just sitting there. It's a doomsday scenario! No wonder Bush won't sign up to Kyoto.

[Crocodine]

^^ I agree with you, mate.

[greek_eagle]

maybe toronto should widen other freeways.....


Personally, I think that Toronto should widen their freeways[especially the 401; more lanes are drastically needed ] in order to accomodate their vehicle usage! :runaway:

[sojourner truth ™]

http://pro.corbis.com/images/UG001246.jpg?size=67&uid={bad913c5-cb03-4f49-ab98-7f0fe99718bc}
Do people seriously think that this kind of thing is good? This is apocolyptic - literally. More of this is one of the worst visions of the future I could envisage. Look at the land area this takes up, think of the fumes going into the atmosphere and into drivers lungs and think of the ammount of fossil fuels that are being wasted by those hundreds of cars just sitting there. It's a doomsday scenario! No wonder Bush won't sign up to Kyoto.

Well, toll booths are good to encourage less driving.
That thing costs $5 every time you pass through!

[jacobboyer]

californias cars are much cleaner than other cars. they have a state law that majkes them cleaner

[samsonyuen]

The 401's bad, but there aren't that many like that in the city. It's better in most other North American cities.

[Skybean]

401 at Don Mills
http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/1816/nyc1hn.jpg

[eurogator]

More pictures of "suburban sydney"

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/2382/41357gz3ej.jpg

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/5599/41334wy8vn.jpg

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/1628/highfive22lookingne20050411221.jpg

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/4035/75northahres9be.jpg

dude, i dont know why, but i love US-75 through Dallas. For some reason, it's probably one of my favorite, if not the favorite freeways I've driven on, haha.

[eurogator]

Well, toll booths are good to encourage less driving.
That thing costs $5 every time you pass through!

....apparently doesnt encourage it too much, hehe :)

[SydneyDude]

The Light Horse Interchange on the outskirts of Sydney is where the M7 crosses with the M4.

uncompleted arial:
http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2005/08/12/interchange_wideweb__430x272.jpg

http://www.westlinkm7.com.au/Images/WestlinkGallery/Gallery15/8.jpg

http://www.westlinkm7.com.au/Images/WestlinkGallery/Gallery15/10.jpg

http://www.westlinkm7.com.au/Images/WestlinkGallery/Gallery15/m7_4.jpg

Warringah Freeway:

http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2004/10/28/cahillexpressway_gallery__550x412,0.jpg http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2004/01/16/sv_bridgeappraoch_a,0.jpg
Note the entrance to the Sydney Harbour Tunnel in the middle.

[Kngkyle]

This is more mindblowing than anything I've seen here...

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/5099/050923traffichmed4a5qp.jpg

Anyone know where this pic was taken?
As someone else said it was obviously during a hurricane evacuation, they almost always make the highways 1 way when that happens. My guess is near Miami?

[bay_area]

Anyone know where this pic was taken?
As someone else said it was obviously during a hurricane evacuation, they almost always make the highways 1 way when that happens. My guess is near Miami?
Houston before Hurricane Rita

Do people seriously think that this kind of thing is good?
He didnt say it was good-just that it is.

[Toronto06]

lol @ comparing highways

i think the 401 is the best highway because it serves the purpose of a highway the best, TO GO TO WORK OR HOME! people are saying its like driving through a feild and i read somewhere that somebody thought we made it big to show off.......*shakes head*

since when did a highway become something of amusement? do you use a highway to drive in a relatively straight lane to work and back or to see a nice view of some planted forest? or even to go through a rollercoaster ride of twists and turns? come on people....

[kashyap3]

the 401 is North America's Busiest Highway
and you are only looking at its mississauga segment
it goes through most/all of Canada's largest and most important cities/towns
hence its large volume

[WEST] Detroit, USA
- Windsor
- London
- Waterloo/Kitchener
- Mississauga
- Toronto
- Trenton
- Kingston
- 416 To Ottawa [Capital Territory]
- ONtario/Quebec Provincial boundary [Name Changes to Autoroute 20 because Quebec is mainly french speaking]
-Montreal
-Quebec City
-----------
consult a road map for further cities that lie on the Macdonald-Cartier Freeway

well since I use it quite frequently, I frankly dont think its mind-blowing..
but it is the busiest in NA

[Timstam001]

haha yeah, i think the canadians made it the only freeway going in that direction so that they could have something to rant about, stupid idea really, why dont they just make more freeways going in that direction. everyone knows that when freeways become wide after a certain point each lane added makes things slower rather than faster.


This is just the stupidest comment ever. If you have a little knowledge about Canada you would realise there is no practical nor economical use to build more freeways in that direction. Toronto happens to be an enormous city, and thus needs to cope with many people entering the city. Since the whole western world is driving cars big cities need big freeways. Furthermore, Canada is empty. It's endless and empty, so why build roads? For the local fauna to graze on? You don't build freeways for just a few people. Canada is a huge country but only has a pop of somewhere over 30 million if I'm not mistaking, so theres no need for more asphalt. It's such a simple thing to conclude.


Answer to your question: Canadians don't build more freeways in that direction because there's almost nobody to drive on them.


P.S: Extra lanes don't make freeways slower, it's on- and off-ramps that do.

[LordMandeep]

well due to the fact that that the city decided to build no highways running right though the center of the city (which was a great idea), the 401 has become more busier then they planned it to be. Thats also why its the only highway going in that direction in Toronto.

There will be no more highways built in the city itself and any transportation expansions will be in transit. The are trying to tear down the highway that runs along its waterfront.

[Tuscani01]

This is just the stupidest comment ever. If you have a little knowledge about Canada you would realise there is no practical nor economical use to build more freeways in that direction. Toronto happens to be an enormous city, and thus needs to cope with many people entering the city. Since the whole western world is driving cars big cities need big freeways. Furthermore, Canada is empty. It's endless and empty, so why build roads? For the local fauna to graze on? You don't build freeways for just a few people. Canada is a huge country but only has a pop of somewhere over 30 million if I'm not mistaking, so theres no need for more asphalt. It's such a simple thing to conclude.


Answer to your question: Canadians don't build more freeways in that direction because there's almost nobody to drive on them.


P.S: Extra lanes don't make freeways slower, it's on- and off-ramps that do.

While I applaud you for attemtping to defend Canada, I have to point out some errors.

We dont build more freeways in that direction because there is no more space to build them unless we venture out north of the city, and that would be pointless since the greater population is in the south. The greater Toronto Area has 3 highways which travel East-west, The QEW, 401, 407 and a section of the 403 travels east-west to connect the QEW and 401. If there was no one to drive on the roads, then I wouldnt have to sit in bumper to bumper traffic on my way to work and back home. The 401 during rush hour can become a parking lot.

[miamicanes]

I LOVE the Central Expressway in Dallas. IMHO, this road represents the gold standard of urban feeway excellence.

It's fun to drive on, looks cool, and is amazingly well-buffered from adjacent buildings by virtue of being in a 30 foot deep trench. The cross-streets can go straight across (no ramps to screw up adjacent driveways), the service road is slightly cantilevered (saving space), and most of the road noise gets swallowed up by the trench and overhanging service road. And somehow, they even managed to shoehorn some greenery into the median and planter boxes on the edge. One of my old co-workers actually lives about a hundred feet from that road... standing in her back yard, you'd have never known there was a major 8-lane freeway literally on the other side of the neighbor's house....

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/4035/75northahres9be.jpg

[sc4ish]

i'm amazed at those huge highways!!!

but i think people over there should use public transport

highways will never be big enough...

[zee]

some amazing pictures here

[LordMandeep]

nice highway but a highway that wide should not cut through the centre of a city.

[Paddington]

I think it's friggin' awesome how America can mobilize so many people each days with the expressways it has built through its cities.

The expressway connecting two cities may have been a German concept, but using an expressway to get around town is something that was mastered in America.

Transit fans be damned. :bash:

[Accura4Matalan]

Its not awesome, its symbolic of the decline of humanity.

[FM 2258]

This is more mindblowing than anything I've seen here...

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/5099/050923traffichmed4a5qp.jpg


I think Houston has the most impressive freeways in the world. I can't wait until they finish Interstate 10/ U.S. 90 (Katy Freeway) in Western Houston. That would be fucking awesome when finished.

[monkeyronin]

but i think people over there should use public transport


Uh, we do.. lots of people use the subway, as well as streetcars and buses (hell, theres a higher per-capita transit usage than any other city in North America, but Montreal, and third in total usage only behind New York and Mexico City)

[JAKJ]

It seems common to count collector ramps as actual lanes on the 401 freeway... which I don't really agree with but whatever. In that case it would seem that the Bay Bridge toll plaza may one of the widest roadways in the world... despite its short distance:

http://pro.corbis.com/images/UG001246.jpg?size=67&uid={bad913c5-cb03-4f49-ab98-7f0fe99718bc}
^^ This picture is only traffic in one direction.

Why don't they use an electronic toll? Toll boths are the worst bottlenecks possible

[isaidso]

It seems common to count collector ramps as actual lanes on the 401 freeway... which I don't really agree with but whatever.

The 401 does not count collector ramps as actual lanes. What you probably are assuming are collector ramps are not. The 401 is divided into regular lanes and express lanes. The express lanes in the middle offer exits less often to maintain as much order as possible. Vehicles that are travelling great distances don't have to be inconvenienced by other vehicles that are only going 20 km. It is also safer to design it this way when you have 18 lanes of traffic.

The toll bridge traffic shot you posted looks great, but alot of toll bridges look like that. I might add, that the 401 handles more than 50% more traffic volume than the 2nd busiest highway on the planet. You might not find photos of the 401 impressive, but travelling on it certainly is. When you have to look across 17 lanes of cars to see the other side it makes an impression.

[jess19]

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=328671091&size=m

[Urban Legend]

ha ha let's see you cross the road :lol:

[marrio415]

This is more mindblowing than anything I've seen here...

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/5099/050923traffichmed4a5qp.jpg

hey isn't that off the movie deep impact

[LordMandeep]

the 401 is a very important highway.

At the end at the US border over a billion dollars worth of trade cross that bridge in Windsor every day.

Also I heard now that there are 600,000 cars crossing the busy section at the 400 and the 401 or the "basket weave".

The 401 is going to become a full 16 lane road from Islington to Meadow vale now i believe.

[10ROT]

The 401 is a beast...I was driving down it on Friday night when I was travelling to Toronto. :runaway:

The only highway comparable to that in Hartford is Interstate 84 east of the city, when it has 12 lanes including C/D and HOV lanes, but even that pales in comparison. And it's nowhere as crowded.

[TheCat]

The really mind blowing picture was posted a while ago by someone in another related thread here. It showed the wide section of the 401, taken from above. That was really the best picture of the 401 I have ever seen.

[Bartolo]

ha ha let's see you cross the road :lol:

There have been people that try to cross it, been on the news

[Bartolo]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJAdVAIMB0I

Also how do i insert youtube

[10ROT]

^^

1. first write youtube as a quote: [].[/]
2. Add the funny word at the end (in your case: bJAdVAIMB0I)
3. Presto!

bJAdVAIMB0I

[ChrisZwolle]

hey isn't that off the movie deep impact

I have it on DVD here, but i can´t remember this. Looks more like New Orleans escaping for a hurricane or something. Considering the number of lanes (2x6) i think it's near a large city in the southwest.

[KIWIKAAS]

^^
I thought it was heading out of Houston

[jess19]

Few shots of the 401 that illuminates it's huge size; all pics acquired from flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=460654011&size=l

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=141683919&size=l

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=242837861&size=o

http://www.flickr.com/photos/firequall/221363183/

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=241325999&size=o

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gord-davis/520472539/

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=422660308&size=l

[ZeTaCy]

The most impressive road in the Netherlands is the A16 near Rotterdam:

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/4729/bredewega16qm5.png

The intersection with the A15:

http://www.autosnelwegen.nl/asw/galerie/ak09.jpg

But to be honest, its nothing compared to the 401 in Canada! Hmm i'm going to opt for a wider A16 :lol:

And to all the car haters out there, waiting with construction of more freeways will only give more traffic jams and more air pollution. We should build them now and let technology fix our cars (which we all know IS going to happen), instead of nimbying around :lol:

[ChrisZwolle]

^^ That pic are actually two adjacent motorways; A15 and A16. but impressive though.

By the way, you can't hotlink from autosnelwegen.nl

[-KwK345-]

do u hv more mind-blowing pics of 401?
Yea, I have seen that pic so many times.

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/3781/loverslanestation29km.jpg

Awesome^^

[Velkan]

^^ yeah :cheers:

[tyork]

401 is an amazing highway.... too bad NY doesnt have a highway like that servicing it aside from the NJ Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway... which are huge roads in their own right... i think both are 12 lanes at some points... nothing like 401's 20 but we have more trains.... :)

[ale26]

AMAZING PICS!

[ames]

wow awesome lucky texas

[SCWTC4]

here for you new jersey turnpike near newark harbor.. 18 lanes in total :nuts:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=it&geocode=&q=newark&ie=UTF8&ll=40.712415,-74.144105&spn=0.002806,0.006781&t=k&z=18&om=1

[lambersart2005]

this thread reminded me of one pic I took in APR 2005 in Beijing - I was totally impressed when I was crossing this bridge....

Ring2 in the west :nuts:
http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/6430/chinaflug2979wv8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[jarbury]

I thought the El Toro Y was the widest freeway in the world?

From Wikipedia:

In 1993, the California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) began a massive expansion project, adding a new interchange at Bake Parkway, new collector/distributor lanes, truck bypasses, and new carpool lanes and connectors. The $166-million project also vastly increased regular traffic lanes. After the project was completed in 1997, the El Toro Y stood as one of the widest roads in the world, at 26 traffic lanes wide.

[ChrisZwolle]

Those 26 lanes are including onramps, offramps, and merging lanes. I think to be frank, one should only count through lanes.

[-KwK345-]

More pictures of "suburban sydney"

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/2382/41357gz3ej.jpg

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/5599/41334wy8vn.jpg

OMG I love those pictures!