The Digital Labyrinth :: TDL: Search results for tunnels

Montreal might have the closest thing in Canada for what Melbourne has. However, Montreal hasn't allowed to have any 100 story buildings like Melbourne, NYC & Chicago have.

https://www.westconnex.com.au/roads-projects/

https://www.transurban.com/roads-and-projects/sydney

https://www.transurban.com/roads-and-projects/sydney#crosscitytunnel

https://www.transurban.com/roads-and-projects/sydney#lanecovetunnel

https://www.transurban.com/roads-and-projects/brisbane

https://www.transurban.com/roads-and-projects/brisbane#gatewaymotorway The duplication of an already resonably wide bride has made for an impressive 12 lane crossing. One would be hard-pressed to find such a scale of bridge engineering in Canada, especially in BC.

https://www.linkt.com.au/using-toll-roads/about-brisbane-toll-roads/gateway-motorway/brisbane?_ga=2.112088524.997850127.1703188007-951643104.1703188007

Despite Australia having a smaller population than Canada, Australia has allowed for larger infrastructure, in some respects.

Of course if the cost of gas & EVs, along with the overall cost of living remains high, then more people will be forced to live in the 15-30_minute_city. It can be great in some ways, but many people would still prefer to work or shop in another part of town. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/15-minute_city#Societal_effects

Humans in this new AI run world might have to acquire permission to drive on some days. Even just to go to the beach or shop...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microchip_implant_(human)#Criticisms_and_concerns

If people aren't carful, the world might become quite an inhuman place, but very machine compatible.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microchip_implant_(human)#Risk_to_human_freedom_and_autonomy

https://thedigitallabyrinth.blogspot.com/search?q=Australia

Saturday, July 01, 2023

Some Wide Bridges and High Volume Crossings in the World

https://bridgemastersinc.com/record-setting-bridges-across-the-globe

https://www.axiomint.com/built-wide-bridge-across-the-great-divide

Cairo: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_El_Farag_Axis_Bridge Has 12 lanes. https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2019/6/egypts-new-bridge-becomes-the-widest-cable-stayed-bridge-580736

Brisbane: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Leo_Hielscher_Bridges They provide a 12 lane crossing.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Washington_Bridge It has 14 lanes. https://www.panynj.gov/bridges-tunnels/en/george-washington-bridge/history.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verrazzano-Narrows_Bridge It has 13 lanes. https://www.nydailynews.com/2015/10/06/bike-lanes-eyed-in-400m-overhaul-of-verrazano-bridge/

Since the early 1970s, the 10 lane San_Francisco-Oakland_Bay_Bridge is augmented in a way, by the Transbay_Tube. Indeed, 10 car BART trains cross the San_Francisco_Bay. Unfortunately, the BART tube wasn't designed to have a provision for a 3rd or 4th set of train tracks, so capacity is limited.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_span_replacement_of_the_San_Francisco-Oakland_Bay_Bridge Unfortunately, the Bay Bridge doesn't have anything like Sydney_Harbour_Bridge_cycleway as of yet.

The Sydney_Harbour_Bridge has 8 lanes and 2 tracks of the North_Shore_railway_line. The Harbour Bridge is augmented by the 4 lane Sydney_Harbour_Tunnel. On the other side of the Harbour Bridge is the Sydney_Metro-tunnel , https://www.sydneymetro.info/article/history-under-sydney-harbour , https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/media/documents/2017/tbm-fatcheet.PDF , https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-21/sydney-metro-train-travels-under-harbour/102252872 , https://www.9news.com.au/national/sydney-news-train-goes-under-harbor-bridge-for-the-first-time-in-test/92d0ef56-3032-4416-a653-5b7c67dba002

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Gate_Bridge Has 10 lanes.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingston_Bridge,_Glasgow Has 10 lanes.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anzac_Bridge Has 8 lanes.

The new Port_Mann_Bridge in Canada was the widest for a little while. However, the bridge should have also had 2 rapidbus lanes and a provision for 2 rail rapid transit tracks. https://www.itsinternational.com/its1/feature/widest-bridge-world-port-mann-open-vancouver

The George_Massey_Tunnel was built to classic backward BC standards with only 4 lanes and no bus lanes and no breakdown lanes. While its replacement will have 8 lanes, there is no provision for rapid_transit. No emergency lanes and no provision for extra HOV & bus lanes. https://biv.com/article/2023/06/bc-starts-bid-process-41b-massey-traffic-tunnel

These 3 fine crossings were possible, simply because they aren't under any Vancouver, BC type restrictions and limitations.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narrows_Bridge_(Perth) ,WA: Has 10 lanes and 2 train tracks.

Seattle, WA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_90_floating_bridges An 8 lane crossing with 2 train tracks.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champlain_Bridge_(Montreal,_2019-present), Quebec: It has 8 lanes and 2 train tracks. Stubborn BC will likely continue to not follow the examples of WA & Q.

At the other end of the spectrum is the inept, 3 lane Lions_Gate_Bridge. It just might be the best example of bottleneck planning on the planet. The Lions-Gate-Bridge is too narrow and flimsy to accomodate 2 bus lanes, especially any trains. Unlike Sydney, SF & Montreal in the 1930s, Vancouver was just a provincial backwater. Thus, the Lions_Gate_Bridge opened with just 2 lanes. A bridge so narrow that some living rooms and swimming pools are wider than it. The 3rd lane was squeezed in during the early 1950s. The Lions_Gate_Bridge would be fantastic as a bus, bike and pedestrian crossing. However, an 8 lane tunnel with a provision for a train line, should be built from the North_Shore to Georgia_Street. The section of Georgia-Street that's closest to Stanley_Park is 7 lanes wide. However, unlike most major cities, Vancouver deliberately keeps falling behind, because congestive or stunted planning is the way to go.

Fortunately, the Vancouverism mentality didn't stop the Narrows_Bridge_in_Perth or Seattle's upgraded Interstate_90_floating_bridges and especially, the Champlain_Bridge_in_Montreal. (WA & Q)

https://thedigitallabyrinth.blogspot.com/search?q=trains

Friday, December 30, 2022

Northeast’s century-old rail bridges, tunnels land $9 billion overhaul

https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2022/12/22/amtrak-northeast-corridor-route-overhaul

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amtrak , https://www.amtrak.com/home.html

Amtrak doesn't just connect to all the major US cities, but 3 of the main cities in Canada as well. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amtrak#Routes

https://www.amtrak.com/regions/northeast.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Amtrak_routes#Northeast

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Amtrak_routes#Northeast_Corridor

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Amtrak_routes#West

Pacific Northwest

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Amtrak_routes#Cascades_Corridor

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amtrak_Cascades#Proposed_changes

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Northwest_Corridor

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Northwest_Corridor#Seattle%E2%80%93Vancouver

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/amtrak-cascades-vancouver-seattle-portland-new-train-airo

https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2022PREM0061-001374 Could backwater BC actually start to eventually build better heavy_rail infrastructure? There really should be at least 4 tracks between Vancouver, BC (V-BC) & Seattle, WA. Two for freight & two for passenger trains.

https://wsdot.wa.gov/construction-planning/search-studies/ultra-high-speed-rail-study

https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2022/06/10/high-speed-rail-150-million-pacific-northwest

https://crosscut.com/environment/2021/11/dream-high-speed-rail-pnw-may-finally-be-horizon

https://www.railwayage.com/passenger/high-performance/b-c-wsdot-invest-in-next-phase-of-vancouver-seattle-portland-high-speed-rail-study/

https://bikeportland.org/2022/12/05/metro-council-will-hear-plan-for-ultra-high-speed-rail-367840

https://www.cascadiarail.org , https://www.amtrak.com/regions/northwest.html

https://www.amtrak.com/routes/cascades-train.html To Vancouver, BC

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_(Amtrak_train)

Amtrak & VIA Rail's International Limited https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npL-Fhu2krc

https://www.amtrak.com/routes/maple-leaf-train.html To Toronto

https://www.amtrak.com/routes/adirondack-train.html To Montreal

Thursday, July 21, 2022

Portland-Vancouver Interstate 5 Bridge and some other things

https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-putting-interstate-bridge-misconceptions-to-rest

This is a river crossing that should have been upgraded decades ago. Montreal also had to wait several decades to get their new and improved bridge.

https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-public-transit-buses-and-vans-superior-to-costly-light-rail-for-i-5-bridge-replacement

https://www.interstatebridge.org , https://www.interstatebridge.org/about

At least this has been a 6 lane crossing for several decades. In Vancouver, BC, or V-BC, everything is still funneled into an inadequate 3 lane Lion Bridge for the past several decades. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jeNjKZExfE , https://www.youtube.com/c/IBRProgram/videos

https://www.oregonlive.com/commuting/2022/07/interstate-bridge-replacement-proposal-hits-major-milestone-with-state-local-endorsements.html

https://www.cityofvancouver.us/cmo/page/interstate-bridge-replacement-program It would be total chaos if Portland and Vancouver, WA were forced to just have a 3 lane crossing like V-BC still has. So while the I-5 Bridge that's a few miles north of downtown Portland has 6 lanes, the Lion Bridge north of downtown Vancouver, BC is only 3 lanes.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_Bridge#First_bridge At least when the first bridge opened, it was set up for trams or streetcars, as well as being a highway bridge. Unfortunately, the rail mode of the bridge only went from 1917 to 1940.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_Bridge#Upgrades Then by the 1950s, there was no reason to put in a parallel rail section next to the new bridge.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_Bridge#Interstate_Bridge_Replacement_Program_(2019-present) Fortunately, the new Portland & Vancouver, USA bridge, will have a passenger rail component to it. This has already worked out very well on the I-90 Bridge in Seattle & for a new bridge in Montreal.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lions_Gate_Bridge It doesn't matter if it was in the 1930s or in the 2030s, there just was no vision to have a commuter rail component on the LG bridge. With only 3 lanes, it's impossible to have a couple of dedicated bus lanes on it. Of course, no one allowed for the provision of a future extra deck for trams or trains. That's just the Vancouver & BC (V-BC) shortsighted way.

For anyone that's from the Ile_Bizard part of Montreal, they will be shocked to see such a narrow bridge in V-BC.

https://www.google.com/maps/@ Ile Bizard has a 3 lane bridge that wasn't designed to have 2 levels, or become twinned. That's OK, because Ile Bizard is a backwater part of Montreal.

However, one might think that Vancouver isn't suppose to be some provincial backwater. Yet, a multi-generational power structure or mindset & its thwarting agenda, prevents Vancouver, BC from having proper big city infrastructure. Something that is commonplace in the scenic cities of Sydney, Australia, San_Francisco & Seattle. Even scenic Auckland, NZ hasn't been Vancouverized.

While the 8 lane Auckland_Harbour_Bridge is legal for that city, any 8 lane wide harbor bridge or inlet crossing in V-BC is illegal. The inept planning in Greater Vancouver hasn't even allowed for a proper network of bus & bike bridges.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auckland_Harbour_Bridge#Traffic_management

Unfortunately, the AHB didn't get to be as grand as the SHB. There at least should have been a provision in the design to potentially become as wide or even wider that the SHB.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auckland_Harbour_Bridge#Original_proposal

Fortunately, Auckland & Sydney didn't get stuck with something like the barebones, 3 lane LGB.

https://www.google.com/maps/@ LG Bridge deck with only 3 lanes. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Vancouver,+BC/@ Some people actually have living rooms & swimming pools wider than that little bridge.

Eventually, Portland will get a nice new highway bridge with a provision for rail transit, similar to what Montreal has. https://www.samueldechamplainbridge.ca/pedestrians-and-cyclists

Montreal's New Champlain Bridge https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiX8OT1iwZI 8 lanes & 2 train tracks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2TtjRLKyAo Montreal had to finally replace its old 6 lane bridge with a nice new crossing. https://www.youtube.com/c/NouveauChamplain/videos

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Montreal,+QC/@

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champlain_Bridge_(Montreal,_2019-present) This was possible for Montreal, because that city doesn't have a multi-generational thwarting power structure or Gordian_Knot like laws to prevent it. Where as VBC does have such thwarting laws that goes right back to the early decades of the city.

https://www.oregonlive.com/commuting/2019/09/oregon-and-washington-well-start-building-a-new-interstate-bridge-by-2025.html Inspite of it being a very slow-going process, Portland & Vancouver, WA will get their version of what Montreal already has. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia_River_Crossing#Interstate_Bridge_Replacement_Program

Meanwhile, Vancouver, BC will still be stuck with a 3 lane Lion bridge that has no provision for bus lanes & especially no rail transit. If it could have had at least 4 lanes like the St._Johns_Bridge in Portland, then it would have been easier to have a bus & HOV lane each way. https://historicbridges.org/bridges/browser/?bridgebrowser=oregon/stjohnsbridge Any major crossing in an urban area should have at least 4, if not 6 or 8 lanes. Of course some cities even have larger capacity crossings.

https://forbiddenvancouver.ca/blog/lions-gate-bridge-lions-guard There was a time in BC that if you could have 2 waggon roads next to each other, that was a big deal. https://www.insidevancouver.ca/2012/06/12/inside-vancouvers-hidden-past-the-secret-history-of-the-lions-gate-bridge So instead of the Lion Bridge having 6 lanes or at least 4, it was to only have 2 (wagon) lanes. Fortunately, there was just enough extra space to eventually fit in a 3rd lane. However, with no provision for an extra deck, any bus & HOV lanes or rail transit there, just isn't possible. https://placesthatmatter.ca/location/lions-gate-bridge

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/lions-gate-bridge-close-overnight By now, most real cities would have twinned that crossing, or bypassed it with a 6 to 8 lane tunnel. But this is backwater BC, where you are lucky to even have just a few wagon roads at key crossing points.

https://structurae.net/en/structures/lions-gate-bridge Of course even when the bridge was rebuilt, no additional deck for trains or buses was put in. Most likely, the towers & cables would have had to be substantially reinforced to support an extra deck, so for the sake of aesthetics, the bridge retained its overall slim appearance as a 3 lane choke point or bottle neck.

Any future Inlet rail transit lines will likely be situated much closer towards the Iron Bridge.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/north-shore-rapid-transit-bus-rapid-transit-park-royal-metrotown-brt

It's as if a monstrous force has been growing since BC colonial times. This force is like a multigenerational thwarting mindset, generated by all the various interest groups for well over a century. Fortunately, this thwarting collective force hasn't been able to thwart Oregon, Washington State and Alberta to the same extent. All one has to do is look at how much larger the infrastructure is allowed in many other places.

When done correctly, bridges and tunnels can be efficient high volume conduits. Especially by providing various modes of transportation.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_bridges_in_Portland,_Oregon

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_L._Jackson_Memorial_Bridge 8 lanes

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fremont_Bridge_(Portland,_Oregon) 8 lanes

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marquam_Bridge 8 lanes

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_crossings_of_the_Willamette_River

Seattle has had a 12 lane bridge since late 1962. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_Canal_Bridge

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Northwest#Transportation

https://thedigitallabyrinth.blogspot.com/search?q=highways

https://embracesomeplace.com/living-seattle-portland

https://thedigitallabyrinth.blogspot.com/search?q=Montreal

https://thedigitallabyrinth.blogspot.com/search?q=Vancouver