Paving crew laying a 40 mm of DFC on the Pine Valley Dr. exit off the 407 eastbound.

Widening targets 407 ETR bottleneck

By Andy Bateman, Engineering Editor

Road widening should help relieve traffic congestion on the one of the busiest stretches of the 407 ETR near Toronto.
      The 407 ETR (Electronic Toll Route) runs east-west, just north of Canada's largest city and is the world's first all electronic open access toll highway. Given the relentless growth in Toronto's traffic volume, even the relatively new 407 is experiencing congestion in some areas. One such area is the 407 section between two major north-south arteries, Highways 427 and 400, especially at the point where traffic from Highway 427 northbound joins the 407's eastbound lanes.
      Within this 427/400 section, between Highway 27 and Pine Valley Dr., a road widening project is adding a fourth lane in each direction, together with new shoulders and access ramp modifications. Six million dollars of toll revenue has been allocated to the project, which began in October last year and is scheduled for completion this spring. Pavement construction involves both concrete and asphalt; the additional lane is being completed in concrete, while the shoulders and ramps are being completed utilising hot mix asphalt.

Cat roller on breakdown duty for Gazzola Paving's 407 ETR subcontract.

      Gazzola Paving Ltd., under a subcontract awarded by Dufferin Construction Co., is completing the asphalt paving work, including some 6000 tonnes of Heavy Duty Binder Course (HDBC) and 4000 tonnes of Dense Friction Course (DFC). Gazzola's site paving fleet for the contract includes a Roadtec SB-2500 Shuttle Buggy, a Caterpillar AP 1055B paver fitted with a 10Æ20B extendable screed and Topcon's grade control system, Caterpillar CB-434C and Ferguson 5-8B dual steel drum compactors and a Dynapac CP21 7-wheel pneumatic compactor.
      Hot mix asphalt is being produced at Gazzola's Etobicoke plant, utilising raw materials supplied by McAsphalt Industries Ltd. (asphalt cement), Dufferin Aggregate's Milton quarry (HDBC aggregates) and Aecon Construction and Materials Ltd.'s Marmora quarry (DFC aggregates). Gazzola Paving Ltd. is based in Etobicoke, Ont.

May/June 2003 issue

Aggregates and Roadbuilding Magazine
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