[innsertnamehere]

I mean minus the inevitable bike lane this doesn't look all that different to me:

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[dullturtle06]

I mean minus the inevitable bike lane this doesn't look all that different to me:

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ya because its not from this decade.

screenshot from a modern highway overpass Poland (highway 2 Warsaw)

 

[innsertnamehere]

I mean if you want "Ontario urban highway built in the last decade" as the criteria..

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What overpass?

 

[nfitz]

So you like ontarios highway design of 1 meter sidewalk beside 6 lane roads with cars going 70km/h. Or the on ramp design were the cars are speeding up to 100km/h while on the street, and forcing pedestrians to cross these on ramps at unsignalized crossings. Oh and the rotting concrete walls.

Lots of room for improvement here as well as elsewhere. Though I'm unsure where there's rotting concrete walls on new highways here or elsewhere!

 

[Allandale25]

IT’S TWINS! Work set to begin on twinning Trans-Canada from Manitoba border to Kenora

KENORA — Work on the much-anticipated twinning of the Trans-Canada Highway between the Manitoba border and Kenora can begin following the signing of a pair of contr…

winnipegsun.com

 

[Haljackey]

In London a few over/underpasses have a little decoration-

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Also the 418 got some maple leafs too

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It's not much but it's something!

 

[whydidimakethis]

Also the 418 got some maple leafs too

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I spotted this one on the 407 too:

 

[Haljackey]

I spotted this one on the 407 too:
View attachment 364520

Is it just me or are those details way too small? If you're going to do stuff like that, make them bigger so people can actually notice them. These could be like 4x the size if the went all the way to the bottom of girders.

 

[dullturtle06]

In London a few over/underpasses have a little decoration-

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

Also the 418 got some maple leafs too

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

It's not much but it's something!

Like I appreciate that the MTO does something. But I'm a firm believer that they need to create an urban highway design standard. This should balance community impact, pedestrian and cyclist safety, with traffic flow through highway on off ramps.

These standards should also try and minimize the footprint of highway in urban areas. And having a percentage for "art or beautifying" the infrastructure would be a good start.

 

[W. K. Lis]

The Queen Elizabeth Way used to be like that. Decorated to "show off" the highway. Then the volume of traffic necessitated the removal of those "decorations" for more spartan use. More likely to "save money".

Toronto’s “Lucky Lion”, on the monument erected in 1939 to commemorate the opening of the Queen Elizabeth Way. Photo is looking west,
From link.

From link.

 

[jamincan]

I'm quite impressed with the details they included on the new bridges for 6th Line and Trafalgar over the 401. I don't have any pictures, but there is a textured detailing along the length of the bridge, and both have inset coloured figures on the abutments (a butterfly on one and wheat sheaves on the other as I recall).

 

[afransen]

I care more about how the highway and interchanges work for pedestrians and cyclists and nearby community that window dressing aesthetics.

 

[whydidimakethis]

I care more about how the highway and interchanges work for pedestrians and cyclists and nearby community that window dressing aesthetics.

Parclo A4s (the MTO standard) really aren't that great for walking across because of the high speeds and crossing the ramps. Unfortunately I can't really think of a way to fix that so easily.

This example from 409/ Martin Grove at least has lights to cross one of the ramps:

 

[Undead]

Why Did the Pedestrian Cross the Freeway?

Interchanges are often the only option for crossing freeways, and these can be challenging to navigate for people walking or riding bikes. By bringing the design of these crossings into the spotlig…

beyondtheautomobile.com

From the article:

-Get rid of slip lanes
-Signalize the ramps
-Separate pedestrian/cyclist paths entirely from car movements on different sides of the road

I would also add:

-Narrow the ramp lanes
-Increase turn radii with curb extensions
-Add rumble strips
-Improve sightlines for all road users and illumination

 

[dullturtle06]

Why Did the Pedestrian Cross the Freeway?

Interchanges are often the only option for crossing freeways, and these can be challenging to navigate for people walking or riding bikes. By bringing the design of these crossings into the spotlig…

beyondtheautomobile.com

From the article:

-Get rid of slip lanes
-Signalize the ramps
-Separate pedestrian/cyclist paths entirely from car movements on different sides of the road

I would also add:

-Narrow the ramp lanes
-Increase turn radii with curb extensions
-Add rumble strips
-Improve sightlines for all road users and illumination

i personally favour square ramps, since they take up much less space. i know that they have an impact on traffic flow, but should be utilized in urban areas much more for the saved space. Plus when signalized, are much safer too, and with a dedicated right turn signal, can have a high traffic through put.