Highway 102 Upgrades (Bi-Hi Expansion) | Proposed

[Summerville]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I'm the same. I don't currently bike (but I used to, including in Halifax, where I used my bike to travel to and from med school when I was there). As a senior citizen, I am seriously considering getting an E-bike next year. There is actually a well developed trail system here in Moncton that I am anxious to explore. I created the Active Transportation thread in the Moncton section.

So, I support active transportation initiatives, but, one has to be reasonable, and, one needs to avoid hoisting oneself on the "induced demand" petard. You cannot be a zealot. We need enough traffic lanes to ensure that commerce is not impeded and, that commuters can predictably get to where they need to go in a reasonable period of time.

This Houston proposal for the 102 is one that should be supported.

Totally agree that the 102 needs another. If not to get into the city,…but out. Traffic may gather in the morning because of the road system on the peninsula, but we also have a rush hour program at the end of the day.

The only question I have which is likely unrealistic because of the general consensus is whether the 500 million dollars ++ used to expand highways could be better spent on a dedicated rail system

[Dartguard]

Originally Posted by Summerville

Totally agree that the 102 needs another. If not to get into the city,…but out. Traffic may gather in the morning because of the road system on the peninsula, but we also have a rush hour program at the end of the day.

The only question I have which is likely unrealistic because of the general consensus is whether the 500 million dollars ++ used to expand highways could be better spent on a dedicated rail system

I would not be surprised if our new Mayor starts that public discussion but with a plan to build both. Halifax has been discovered and the secret is out of the bag.More Ontario folks and retiring Maritimers will be moving back to the Region and Halifax has gone to another level in amenities and opportunities.

Its as if Halifax is finally catching up to the missing roaring Twenties of the last Century. If the Explosion had not happened I surmise that Halifax would be a City region as large as Quebec City or Hamilton. Time to plan for that size.

[Haliguy]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I'm the same. I don't currently bike (but I used to, including in Halifax, where I used my bike to travel to and from med school when I was there). As a senior citizen, I am seriously considering getting an E-bike next year. There is actually a well developed trail system here in Moncton that I am anxious to explore. I created the Active Transportation thread in the Moncton section.

So, I support active transportation initiatives, but, one has to be reasonable, and, one needs to avoid hoisting oneself on the "induced demand" petard. You cannot be a zealot. We need enough traffic lanes to ensure that commerce is not impeded and, that commuters can predictably get to where they need to go in a reasonable period of time.

This Houston proposal for the 102 is one that should be supported.

Exactly, the movement of goods and services, and predictability of travel time is vital. The 102 Bi Hi corridor is an excellent candidate for extra lanes. At the same time investments in ferries, light rail can help reduce the growth of cars that would fill up those lanes.

[mleblanc]

Originally Posted by Haliguy

I bike and I'm a supporter of bike and bus lanes and getting people out of cars, but I realize extra traffic lanes will also be needed as the city grows.

100%. Normally I'm a part of the "just one more lane will fix it all" team, but this is a place where it actually makes sense for a third lane, plus proper exit lanes. It's incredibly needed for this stretch.

Two dedicated exit lanes on on Joe Howe, Hammonds Plains Rd, Kearney Lake Rd, and Larry Uteck would make a huge difference, especially Joe Howe.

[Wdclement]

Personally I'd like to see consistent lighting throughout the 102 for better visibility at night. Hopefully this will be added with the 3rd lane.

Never the less, very excited to see planning finally in the works!

[q12]

https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/more/continu...-headaches-for-halifax-drivers-1.7102418

That can’t happen soon enough for Nick Portman, who lives in Sackville, N.B., but frequently visits Halifax.

“It's a pain in the butt. Last week we were visiting our son in Toronto and it was easier to get from his house into downtown than it is to get through Bedford at lunchtime,” Portman says. “What's astonishing, really, is that I was a little kid when they built the Bi-Hi and they haven't changed anything in 50 years.”

[q12]

Five-Year Highway Improvement Plan 2025-26 released today:

https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2025/01/21/province-continues-invest-highways-bridges-ferries

PDF: https://novascotia.ca/tran/highways/5yearplan/highway-plan-2025-26.pdf

[Keith P.]

Dammit. They wrecking the perfectly functional signalized intersection at Lancaster Dr/Micmac Blvd and the 118 with a roundabout. What a waste.

[Saul Goode]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Dammit. They wrecking the perfectly functional signalized intersection at Lancaster Dr/Micmac Blvd and the 118 with a roundabout. What a waste.

While I too question the need (or wisdom) of placing a roundabout there, I definitely don't think I'd call the existing intersection "perfectly functional". For whatever reason, it's been the site of a number of very serious high-speed collisions. I could speculate that it's related to westbound traffic on the 118 heading for Woodland Ave not slowing down quickly enough to recognize the intersection, but that's just my armchair musing.

And if that actually is the case, I'm not sure what the non-roundabout solution would be. Maybe a series of rumble strips or speed bumps (as at the Cobequid Pass toll plaza)?

I also wonder whether eastbound traffic on Woodland - particularly out-of-towners not familiar with the area - may be accelerating too rapidly up the hill in anticipation of moving onto the highway, unaware that once they're at the crest they still face another set of traffic signals before the transition to higher speed limits (50->80->100). Again, just idle musing with no hard data, but having driven that route hundreds (if not thousands) of times, that's my surmise.

I deal regularly with the traffic tsunami leaving Dartmouth Crossing for the 118 and Woodland westbound during the afternoon rush and can just picture the jam it could generate at a roundabout. Traffic from Micmac Blvd or Lancaster Drive could have a hell of a wait to enter the circle.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by Saul Goode

I could speculate that it's related to westbound traffic on the 118 heading for Woodland Ave not slowing down quickly enough to recognize the intersection, but that's just my armchair musing.

And if that actually is the case, I'm not sure what the non-roundabout solution would be. Maybe a series of rumble strips or speed bumps (as at the Cobequid Pass toll plaza)?

I would guess that is the likely cause there for whatever incidents may have occurred. I would have thought the councillor for the area would have supported rumble strips there, given that he is the speed bump king, but whatever, it looks like were going to be afflicted with another awful roundabout.

[Haliguy]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

I would guess that is the likely cause there for whatever incidents may have occurred. I would have thought the councillor for the area would have supported rumble strips there, given that he is the speed bump king, but whatever, it looks like were going to be afflicted with another awful roundabout.

Its the perfect location for a roundabout.

[Saul Goode]

Originally Posted by Haliguy

Its the perfect location for a roundabout.

Okay, then - I guess that's settled.

[Haliguy]

Originally Posted by Saul Goode

Okay, then - I guess that's settled.

Yup, looks that way, as they are going to build one there!

[Saul Goode]

Originally Posted by Haliguy

Yup, looks that way, as they are going to build one there!

All that's settled is that it's going to happen.

I don't think it's settled that it's necessarily "the perfect location for a roundabout", but whatever...

[IanWatson]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

I would have thought the councillor for the area would have supported rumble strips there

He's written about this intersection many times over the years in support of the roundabout. And yes, the rationale in this situation is that people don't slow down when they transition off the 80 km/h highway so there have been some pretty gnarly accidents.

I think it's a pretty solid tool for the situation.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Based off my anecdotal traffic observations of late, the next conversation will be how to prevent motorists from careening through the roundabout and jumping over the center island after they are startled/surprised/look up from their phone to discover that a roundabout is present ahead of them. Maybe that 50 km/h speed limit sign was there for a reason (or... sign? what sign?).

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by Haliguy

Its the perfect location for a roundabout.

The "perfect location" for these is to leave them on the drawing board.

[Haliguy]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

The "perfect location" for these is to leave them on the drawing board.

Why, you like waiting at traffic lights? Are you one of those people who slow down on a green hoping the light will turn red lol

[Arrdeeharharharbour]

Perhaps a solution would be to prioritize traffic from the 118 to the 111? The Commodore Drive/118 backup every rush hour indicates a problem in my mind. If access to Woodland Road was a ramp then maybe faster drivers might choose to remain on a 118/111/MacKay Bridge route rather than head for the Woodland/Macdonald Bridge route to the peninsula.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by Haliguy

Why, you like waiting at traffic lights? Are you one of those people who slow down on a green hoping the light will turn red lol

No. I don't like entering a traffic circle and having to keep my head on a swivel to avoid others who are prone to sideswiping me when they get confused and do stupid things.