Safety crash cushion as part of the Humber bridge rehabilitation?

During the Dundas Street West bridge rehabilitation over the Humber River, road improvements and streetscape enhancements are being done, in the   current design option,   transportation services does not include a safety crash cushion when travelling westbound on Dundas St West. and are about to enter  onto the bridge.

The blog looked up the specs for the device the transportation departments report states is not included, it looks like it would be a welcome addition. See this post for more info on this part of the project including plantings.



Performance criteria

A. For head-on impacts into the nose, a QuadGuard® System shall be specified which is capable of meeting the occupant risk criteria as recommended in NCHRP 350. For vehicles weighing between 820 and 2000 kg [1,810 and 4,410 lbs], the theoretical impact velocity of a hypothetical front seat passenger against the vehicle's interior (calculated from vehicle acceleration and 600mm [24"] forward displacement) shall be less than 12m/s [39.4 ft/sec], and the vehicle's highest 10 millisecond average acceleration subsequent to the instant of the hypothetical passenger impact shall be less than 20 G's.

B. The QuadGuard System shall be capable of redirecting 2000 kg [4,410 lbs] vehicles which impact the sides of the System at speeds up to 100 km/h [62 mph] at angles of 20° (angles measured from System's longitudinal centerline). The QuadGuard System shall be capable of redirecting 820 kg [1,810 lbs] vehicles, which impact the sides of the System at speeds up to 100 km/h [62 mph] at angles of 15°. (See Test Criteria below.)

C. The QuadGuard System shall be designed and constructed so there is no solid debris from the System which can create a hazard on the roadway after either head-on or side angle design impacts.

Old Dundas Street at Dundas Street West – Highway Alteration

[caption id="attachment_4368" align="aligncenter" width="490" caption="Old Dundas Street work area"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_4369" align="aligncenter" width="490" caption="old-dundas-street-work-area-sketch"][/caption]

and a the full PDF city sketch  provided by the city planner wonderfully quick this morning as it was not on the public city site, Thanks to the, Traffic Engineering Supervisor, who provided it. [link opens in new window] [related post made July 7th 2009 click here]

Dramatic yet useful possible change at old Dundas St...

city staff text...

As part of the Dundas Street West bridge rehabilitation over the Humber River, road improvements and streetscape enhancements have been included in the overall design.

These street and landscape enhancements extend westward to the intersection of Old Dundas Street and Dundas Street West. Currently, Old Dundas Street intersects Dundas Street West at a skewed angle. To normalize this intersection (i.e. create a 90-degree t-type intersection), staff recommends the realigning of the south approach of the intersection to Dundas Street West as shown in the attached sketch and described in Appendix A. These modifications will improve traffic operations and enhance the streetscape in this area by creating more boulevard space.

SUMMARY

This staff report is about a matter for which Community Council has delegated authorityfrom City Council to make a final decision. The purpose of this report is to recommend the enactment of the highway alteration bylaw related to the realigning of the south approach of the intersection of Old Dundas Street and Dundas Street West to normalize as a T-type intersection.

The proposed alteration will be undertaken as part of the existing Contract No. 08FS-23S, and will improve traffic operations and enhance the streetscape.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Transportation Services recommends that Etobicoke York Community Council

approve:

(1) The alterations and modifications on the south approach of the intersection of Old Dundas Street and Dundas Street West, as indicated in Appendix “A”, and generally as shown on the attached sketch.

Financial Impact

All costs, estimated to be $20,000, associated with the alterations and modifications at the south approach of the intersection of Old Dundas Street and Dundas Street West, as indicated in Appendix “A”, will be charged to City Planning Acct. CUR054-01.




ISSUE BACKGROUND

The City of Toronto Act, 2006, requires by-laws for the alteration of highways. This is not a new requirement under the City of Toronto Act, 2006, in that it was required under the previous Municipal Act.  Notwithstanding that many pre amalgamation municipalities had varied practices relating to highway alterations. City Legal staff has advised that any District in Transportation Services needing to make an alteration to a highway, would require the passage of a by-law by City Council. Alterations requiring approval typically include road narrowing and widening, the installation of a lay-by, the installation of sidewalks, the installation of medians and the realignment of intersections.

COMMENTS

As part of the Dundas Street West bridge rehabilitation over the Humber River, road improvements and streetscape enhancements have been included in the overall design.

These street and landscape enhancements extend westward to the intersection of Old Dundas Street and Dundas Street West. Currently, Old Dundas Street intersects Dundas Street West at a skewed angle. To normalize this intersection (i.e. create a 90-degree t-type intersection), staff recommends the realigning of the south approach of the intersection to Dundas Street West as shown in the attached sketch and described in Appendix A. These modifications will improve traffic operations and enhance the streetscape in this area by creating more boulevard space.