Red Hill Valley Parkway
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This article contains information about a planned or expected future road. It may contain information of a speculative nature and the content may change dramatically as the road's construction and/or completion approaches and more information becomes available. |
The Red Hill Valley Parkway (popularly called the Red Hill Creek Expressway) is a municipal expressway running through Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, connecting the Lincoln M. Alexander Parkway to the Queen Elizabeth Way near Hamilton Harbour. It is a four-lane freeway currently under construction and expected to be completed in 2007. When completed, it will likely be designated as an extension of the Lincoln Alexander Parkway, as the both freeways were originally intented to be one project called the "Red Hill Creek Expressway."
Its construction was a controversial political issue during the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s. Many opponents criticized the potential environmental damage of the project, while asserting that the chief beneficiaries of the expressway will be long-distance truckers, and land developers on the Hamilton Mountain. Opponents also take issue with the city spending $220 million to build the expressway. [1] Supporters of the expressway highlight the possible transportational and economic benefits to the city that the new highway will provide. Proponents also assert that care is being taken to ensure that the Red Hill Valley will be preserved and environmentally improved from its current situation.
The freeway, combined with the existing Lincoln Alexander Parkway, will complete a freeway bypass south of Hamilton. Supporters had argued that the highway was the only viable alternative to the congested roads of Highway 403 and QEW Burlington Skyway Bridge, and that completing the Parkway would divert the growing truck traffic off city streets in southern and eastern Hamilton. In particular, the 1990s reconstruction of the Freeman Interchange (QEW-403-407) resulted in a low capacity loop ramp for QEW Toronto-bound to 403 westbound traffic, increasing the need for a bypass of this junction altogether. In addition to connecting to the Lincoln Alexander Parkway, there are plans to extend the Red Hill Creek Parkway to the Mid-Peninsula Highway further south.[2] The interchange with the Lincoln Alexander Parkway and Mud Street has been designed to allow the Red Hill Creek Parkway to be extended south with little modification. [3]
The Red Creek Expressway's construction was a contentious political issue during the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s. It was strongly backed by the provincial governments of Bill Davis and David Peterson. In 1990, citing environmental concerns, the newly-elected administration of Bob Rae withdrew their financial commitment for the expressway the project, which prompted a lawsuit from the regional council[4]. Late in his term, Rae proposed a more limited construction along the Red Hill route. His plan to widen existing arterial connections was rejected by Council as insufficient and "too slow" due to traffic signals and stop signs. The succeeding government of Mike Harris restored funding support to a more comprehensive plan.
The expressway is expected to open for traffic in Fall 2007.
Contents |
[edit] Proposed Interchanges
| Kilometer Post (From QEW) | Intersecting Roads | Possible Destinations | Additional Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 |  Queen Elizabeth Way |
Toronto Mississauga St.Catharines Niagara Falls United States of America |
Freeway Begins. |
| 1 | Barton Avenue | Nashdale Stoney Creek Crown Point Stipeley Central |
|
| 3 | Hamilton City Road 8 (Queenston Road) | Glenview Blakeley The Delta Stoney Creek Fruitland |
|
| 4 | King Street Lawrence Road |
Gershome Vincent Landsdale Central |
Accessible to both of these two streets |
| 5 | Greenhill Avenue | Vincent Red Hill |
Greenhill Avenue ends upon the interchange with Red Hill Valley Parkway. |
| 8 | Lincoln M. Alexander Parkway (The Linc) Mud Road (Hamilton City Road 11) |
Albion Falls Jerome Burlington Woodstock |
Freeway ends. |
[edit] See also
[edit] Other Municipality Freeways in Hamilton
[edit] External links
- View of the construction area in Google Satellite Maps
- The Red Hill Valley Project, City of Hamilton
- Friends of Red Hill Valley, a WebSite against the expressway.
| Roads in Hamilton, Ontario | ||
|---|---|---|
| Lower City Arteries (Primary Roads): | Bay • Burlington • Cootes • Dundurn • James • John • Queen • Victoria • Wellington • Wentworth |
 |
| Lower City Collectors (Secondary): | Catharine • Ferguson • Hess • Hughson • Locke • MacNab | |
| Municipal Expressways: | The Linc • Red Hill Valley | |
| Provincial Highways: | 2 • 5 • 6 (By-Pass) • 8 • Chedoke Parkway • QEW | |
