HomeMy WebLinkAboutPD-245-89DN: 401
TOWN OF NEWCASTLE
REPORT File #
Res. #
By -Law #
MEETING: General Purpose and Administration Committee
DATE: Monday, October 2, 1989
REPORT #: PD- 245 -89 FILE #: PLN 23.5.1
SUBJECT: HIGHWAY 401 WIDENING - BROCK ROAD TO COURTICE ROAD
PRELIMINARY DESIGN STUDY
FILE: PLN 23.5.1
RECOMMENDATIONS:
It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration
Committee recommend to Council the following:
1. THAT Report PD- 245 -89 be received;
2. THAT Council endorse Alternative #3 as the preferred option for the
reconstruction of the Courtice Road interchange before or during the widening of
Highway No. 401 in the Town of Newcastle; and
3. THAT the Ministry of Transportation and the Region of Durham be so advised and
forwarded a copy of this Report.
1. BACKGROUND:
1.1 The Ministry of Transportation is undertaking a study to plan for the
eventual widening of Highway 401 from Brock Road in Pickering to Courtice
Road in the Town of Newcastle. The purpose of the study is to maximize
Highway No. 401 corridor capacity; to establish interchange locations and
configurations; and to integrate the proposals with municipal land use and
transportation planning initiatives.
...2
REPORT NO.: PD-245-89 PAGE 2
Fenco Engineers is undertaking the study for the Ministry. A
preliminary design will be developed over the course of the study to be
used for property protection and corridor control. It will eventually
form the basis in the detailed design of the road widening.
1.2 The preliminary evaluation of the widening study recommended a full core
collector system (3+3+3+3 lanes) from Brock Road to Regional Road #23.
A ten lane system (5+5 lanes) is recommended from Regional Road #23 to
Courtice Road. New all-direction interchanges will be introduced at
Pickering Beach Road, Regional Road #23, Stevenson Road and Simcoe
Street. Existing Highway No. 401 interchanges at Harwood Avenue, Park
Road and Ritson Road will be closed.
1.3 At its meeting on April 11, 1988, Town Council endorsed in principle the
Proposed Conceptual Road Widening and the various interchange locations.
1.4 Since that time there has been a recognition that the General Motors
Corporate Headquarters places a new and unforeseen burden on the
transportation network. As a result of this and the opportunities to
create a "transportation gateway" around the future GO Station east of
Harmony Road, it has been determined that a new interchange east of
Harmony Road is desirable. As a result, the Ministry of Transportation
is also undertaking an examination of a new interchange in this
location. (see Attachment #1)
1.5 The Ministry's consultants are now completing the second stage of the
Highway 401 Widening Study. In July, Fenco Engineers presented to the
staff of the Region and the area municipalities the technically
preferred preliminary design scheme.
On September 5, 1989 Council was invited to a presentation of the same
material with the Council of the City of Oshawa. Due to the conflict
with the General Purpose and Administration Committee Meeting, the
Manager of the Strategic Planning Branch attended this presentation.
...3
REPORT N0.: pD-245-89 PAGE 3
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Subsequent to presentations to the various Councils affected by this
Study, the Ministry and their consultants are conducting Public
Information Centres. A Public Information Centre for Oshawa and
Newcastle residents will be held at the Holiday Inn on October 3^ 1989
from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
2. PRELIMINARY DESIGN STUDY
2.1 The preliminary design work at this stage assumes that there will be an
orderly progression for widening the 401 from west to east from Brock.
Road after 1998. The widening work within the Town of Newcastle would
not be completed until sometime after the year 2000.
The actual interchanges can be built independently from the widening on
a priority basis to meet current and growing operational needs. In this
respect, the new G.M./G0 interchange and the Stephenson Road interchange
in Oshawa would appear to be Regional priorities for early construction.
3.2 Three alternatives were examined for the Courtioe Road interchange under
preliminary designs prepared by Fenco Engineers. These are illustrated
schematically in Attachments #2' ] and 4. AdetaiIed evaluation matrix
was utilized to examine these alternatives. The results are summarized
as follows:
^ All alternatives negatively impact the natural environment primarily
due to the proximity of the interchange to the Tooley Creek.
~ There are no significant impacts on existing residents and no
~
All alternatives reduce area available for potential industrial/
commercial activities doe to land requirements; Alternative #3 causes
the greatest disturbance requiring the relocation of the access to
the service station/restaurant on the southeast quadrant.
...4
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Alternative #1 may be deficient in capacity; Alternative #3 provides
the maximum capacity achievable
Alternatives #2 and #3 may not be sufficient for efficient traffic
signal operations along Courtice Road
Construction costs are as follows: Alternative #1 $3,400,000.
Alternative #2 $4,250,000.
Alternative #3 $5,100,000.
Land acquisitions costs are as follows:
Alternative #1 $ 976,000. - $1,546,000.
Alternative #2 $1,476,000. - $2,345,000.
Alternative #3 Cannot be determined
2.3 In summary, Alternative #3 is the technically preferred alternative
providing the greatest capacity at a higher construction cost.
Alternative #3 could be staged with the South Service Road relocated when
traffic volumes warrant such improvements.
3. STAFF COMMENTS:
3.1 Staff are presently examining the industrial opportunities for the lands
in the vicinity of the Courtice Road interchange. As this study
progresses, further details will be forthcoming with respect to
recommended land uses in this area.
Staff have consulted with both the Region and the Ministry of
Transportation on this matter noting the tremendous impact such land use
changes may require of the transportation system. As a result the
technically preferred alternative has been prepared to considerably
exceed the requirements of the current land use pattern. By providing
for an interchange with the greatest capacity, there would be the best
potential to provide for long term needs of this area.
..5
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3.2 As a result of the westerly orientation of travel demands, the Courtice
Urban Area will be served by three interchanges; Harmony Road interchange
and GM /GO interchange in the City of Oshawa and Courtice Road interchange
in the Town of Newcastle. Until such time as future land use
designations have been determined for the lands south of Courtice, it
will be difficult to ascertain whether the combination of the three
interchanges will provide an adequate level of service for all future
industrial and residential traffic in both Oshawa and Courtice.
Current planning studies may result in the need for a number of
additional improvements to the transportation network including:
i) upgrading Baseline Road to a major collector or arterial road;
ii) improvements to east -west arterial roads (such as a connection from
Wentworth Street in Oshawa to the South Service Road);
iii) improvements to north -south arterial roads (such as an overpass
across Highway No. 401 to provide additional access to Special
Study Area #11.); and
iv) an additional interchange to serve Courtice.
3.3 With the endorsement of Town and Regional Council, the technically
preferred alternatives in the Preliminary Design Study will be
recommended to the Minister of Transportation for the widening of
Highway 401. As a result, the corridor will be protected for
reconstruction and the future planning for the adjacent lands will need
to conform to the widening and interchange requirements.
!W-1
V- r,) O
RENTWO
Given the mandate of the Preliminary Design Study for the Highway No.
401 Widening from Brock Road to Courtice Road, the technically preferred
alternative (Alternative #3) provides for additional traffic demand
beyond the current planning framework for the Courtice Urban Area. The
interchange proposed will provide the maximum capacity achievable. As
such, it is recommended that Council endorse Alternative #3. Further
transportation network improvements can be considered in conjunction with
other planning studies.
Respectfully submitted,
Franklin Wu, M.C.I.P.
Director of Planning & Development
Walter A. Evans, P.Eng.
Director of Public Works
DC*FW*jip
*Attach.
September 19, 1989
Recommended for presentation
to the Committee
- ------ - -----------------
Lawrence .;Kotseff
Chief Ad in'strative Officer
Attachment # 1
STEVENSON ROAD
PAR_ K ROAD
SIMCOE STREET
RITSON ROAD
HARMONY ROAD
G.M. /GO
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Attachment # 2
Attachment # 31
Attachment
593