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Morriston1986 said:
Interesting, Ive never believed HWY 7 was going to be completed in my lifetime, I drive this regularly during morning rush between cities and just dont face substantial consistent traffic.
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I seldom ever did it in AM rush, but it always seemed poor in the afternoon at the turn of the century. How is at that time, now.

I'm surprised it would have dropped - the AADT data says it's only increased since then - but doesn't break down time of day.
 
nfitz said:
I seldom ever did it in AM rush, but it always seemed poor in the afternoon at the turn of the century. How is at that time, now.

I'm surprised it would have dropped - the AADT data says it's only increased since then - but doesn't break down time of day.
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2021 AADT is generally between 18 and 22,000 on Highway 7, with it increasing as it approaches Kitchener. It is the second-busiest 2-lane provincial highway in the province.

Behind.. Highway 6 through Morriston, which sits around 29,000.

The general "capacity" of a 2-lane rural road is considered to be around 15,000, for comparison, whereafter it starts to experience major congestion. You can eake more out by providing 4 lanes at signalized intersections which are through-put limiters.

Morriston is extra challenging in this way as it has a 2-lane signalized intersection. Highway 7 does as well, but they at least have right turn lanes which mitigates it and it also it deals with about 30% less traffic..

My experience with Highway 6 through Morriston is that it is regularly congested basically throughout the weekday mid-day period at this point. It's absolutely ridiculous the province hasn't built the bypass. Hell, parts of 6 closer to Hamilton are approaching the traffic levels which warrant a six lane freeway and it's still operating as a 4-lane rural road..

Highway 7 should happen as well but it's at least a bit less of an "emergency" in terms of congestion levels.
 
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innsertnamehere said:
2021 AADT is generally between 18 and 22,000 on Highway 7, with it increasing as it approaches Kitchener. It is the second-busiest 2-lane provincial highway in the province.
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That looks about right. In the summary from 1988 to 2021, AADT was 22,900 at Guelph Townline in 2021. Up from 20,300 in 2016. Presumably it's grown since then.

On the other hand, it had previously peaked at 23,300 in 2010 and 2011; I'm not sure what would have lead to a decline - probably the Fairview Road bridge over the Grand, which opened in 2012. guess that bought them a decade, on the other hand, back at the turn of the century it was 21,900 there, so growth has accelerated.

Time to build this, especially with growth continuing, if not accelerating. And another factor is the death rate. When I lived in KW, it seemed there was an inordinate number of people who died on that road; I don't recall hearing as high numbers on Highway 6, or the Conestoga after they put in the safety barriers (it was probably higher than Guelph to KW, anecdotally).
 
The Kitchener economy was also firing on all cylinders in the 2000's with Blackberry driving growth at the time.

Highway 6 through Morriston is low-speed so likely has a low fatality rate compared to 7 which is 80km/h - but regardless, both highways need to be addressed.

Morriston amazes me the province hasn't acted on it since the solution is so much cheaper than 7 is. The Highway 7 freeway will be quite expensive to build, particularly the interchange with 85.. the Morriston Bypass is like three new overpass structures and a narrow highway corridor (no central median) and that's it.
 
Actually - I stand corrected - highway 12 south around Orillia is the second-busiest 2-lane Provincial highway with an AADT of around 26,000..
 
innsertnamehere said:
Actually - I stand corrected - highway 12 south around Orillia is the second-busiest 2-lane Provincial highway with an AADT of around 26,000..
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That's a lot of urban traffic, both within town and to/from the casino. Part of it is already 4-lane, although not the 'bypass'. Orillia is a little unusual since it is designed as provincial highway through town rather than as a connecting link. No question it is a busy road though, both east and west of the city.
 
nfitz said:
Hmm. Perhaps we will see 404 going all the way up to Highway 11 one day. Though it's down to 14,400 once it's through Orillia (and Atherley).
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12 on the east side of Lake Simcoe is busy, but nothing crazy - it gets significantly busier on summer weekends but that's like 8-10 weekends a year. For the other 350 days a year there are a lot of other busier highways around.

Through Orillia it's a lot of urban traffic for sure - it just needs a more traditional 4-lane arterial configuration, IMO.

For those curious, the other really busy 2-lane provincial highways are:

1. Highway 6 through Morriston - 29,000 AADT
2. Highway 12 through Orillia - 26,000 AADT
3. HIghway 7 from Kitchener to Guelph - 22,000 AADT
4. Highway 9 from Hwy 400 to Orangeville - 22,000 AADT east of Schomberg and 15-20,000 west of it
5, Highway 89 from Alliston to Hwy 400 - 18,000 AADT
6. Highway 5 from Waterdown to Sydenham Rd (Dundas) - 17,000 AADT
7. Highway 6 south of Fergus - 15,000 AADT
8. Highway 10 from north of Orangeville to Shelbourne - 15,000 AADT

All other highways operate under 15,000 AADT which is generally where roads start to experience significant congestion. A couple others come close, like 6 between Caledonia and Hagersville and 12 around Beaverton, but aren't there yet.
 
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I'm honestly surprised by the rankings of those highways. My impression of the two-lane portions of Hwy 12 through Orillia is that it handles the traffic really well to the point that I'm surprised it would be in the neighbourhood of Hwy 6 through Morriston and Hwy 7 west of Guelph both of which can get backed up enough that it takes multiple cycles of a light to get through an intersection. I suppose the traffic might be spread out more evenly thoughout the day?
 
jamincan said:
I'm honestly surprised by the rankings of those highways. My impression of the two-lane portions of Hwy 12 through Orillia is that it handles the traffic really well to the point that I'm surprised it would be in the neighbourhood of Hwy 6 through Morriston and Hwy 7 west of Guelph both of which can get backed up enough that it takes multiple cycles of a light to get through an intersection. I suppose the traffic might be spread out more evenly thoughout the day?
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I'd guess so. It goes as high as over 30,000 during the summer compared to 31,000 for Hwy 6 in Morriston. 12 carries about half the number of trucks as 6, which may be a part of it.

MTO is rebuilding the Highway 11/12 interchange starting this summer - the contract is currently out for bids. I believe it involves 4-laning 12 around the proximity of the interchange. I know they did the EA a few years ago for the whole stretch of 2-lane part through Orillia.. no funding to actually widen it though as far as I know.
 
...Extend the 404 to Casino Rama? Reminds me of the South Park Episode where the native casino operators want to demolish the town to build a freeway to their casino.

I assume Highway 7's traffic volumes are 'lower' than expected because drivers just don't want to deal with it. There are alternate routes like the 401. Volumes will go up a lot whenever the freeway is built (cough cough induced demand)

Highway 6 on the other hand- that's high because there's really no other alternative. Unless you want to travel through Cambridge on Highway 24 instead, get to Brantford and then backtrack on the 403, Highway 6 is just more direct.

Highway 12 through Orillia does seem simple to widen, but I guess it's still operating semi-decently since there's not many intersections and fronting business. It does get really congested during the summer however.

Highway 10 does need 4 laning all the way up to Shelbourne.
 
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