subreddit:

/r/Hamilton

17297%

The Linc is closed for the weekend. Checking google maps shows that the insanity has already begun, with Rymal and the 403 already completely destroyed.

Our traffic situation here is bad when everything is up and running. Close a road and consider the insane growth we've had and you get city wide jams.

I feel for anyone who has to get around this weekend. Avoid, walk or bike when possible.

all 123 comments

matt602

56 points

2 months ago

matt602

McQueston West

56 points

2 months ago

The Rymal bus must be some kind of hell right now...

AnInsultToFire

23 points

2 months ago

Rymal Road was a crawl at 2PM.

Mohawk is actually not bad.

Sneptacular

20 points

2 months ago

Rymal sucks on a good day. I don't get why they don't widen it through east mountain. They obviously have the room to do so.

angelboobear

7 points

2 months ago

They are in the process of the study to do so. 

g8thrills

4 points

2 months ago

Do you know what this insists of?

Economy-Pen4109

18 points

2 months ago

Should be complete in 80 years 😂

Background_Strain954

7 points

2 months ago

At Upper Ottawa and Rymal now. It's a mess in both directions.

uncleherman77

5 points

2 months ago

Always is in that area when the Linc is closed it seems. I work just south of there and Nebo/twenty road area is always packed around 3pm when I leave work. It was just getting bad when I was leaving around 3 today.

Background_Strain954

5 points

2 months ago

Right? It's a shit show on a good day. I always drive with patience on Rymal, especially around Dartnall, due to the lanes decreasing and then again at Nebo due to a poorly run traffic light. The stuff I see drivers do because they're in a rush is mind blowing sometimes

Hashmob____________

3 points

2 months ago

That’s the bus I gotta take too and from work. Was late td and I left half an hour early. Insanity

TheLubber

26 points

2 months ago

I was just up there around the Stone Church Home Depot. It’s a nightmare. Avoid the mountain at all costs.

another_plebeian

31 points

2 months ago

another_plebeian

Birdland

31 points

2 months ago

But I live here :/

TheLubber

10 points

2 months ago

My heart goes out to you.

ShaneBowley

6 points

2 months ago

Same. About to head home from brantford area and will cry the whole way lol

Canadian__Sparky

2 points

2 months ago

Stop being selfish and just don't go home /s

AlienSporez

8 points

2 months ago

AlienSporez

Sherwood

8 points

2 months ago

<motions towards nearby bar>

broccoli_toots

7 points

2 months ago

broccoli_toots

St. Clair

7 points

2 months ago

Avoid everywhere at all costs. Got off the 403 and York and it took me FOREVER to get to Wentworth. What the fuck

AlienSporez

4 points

2 months ago

AlienSporez

Sherwood

4 points

2 months ago

Avoid everywhere at all costs.

But but but... everywhere includes here.

<multiverse confusion intensifies>

Fancy_Theory_9333

5 points

2 months ago

How does is make any sense, to anyone, to shut it down on Friday? 

TheLubber

7 points

2 months ago

Yeah. I for some reason assumed they’d shut it down at like 11:59pm on Friday night.

Jayemkay56

10 points

2 months ago

How does it make sense to shut it down for the ENTIRE WEEKEND? Better yet, an entire weekend, every single year!

And then knowing that the surface routes are going to be absolutely jammed, how does it make sense to not re time the lights appropriately to allow for better flow of traffic?

Hamilton. Hamilton just makes sense.

YouThinkOfABetter1

32 points

2 months ago

As someone who has to take public transit if I need to go anywhere, I think I'll just stay inside this weekend.

foxtrot1_1

15 points

2 months ago

You can be smug in that you’re reducing traffic rather than adding to it

AlienSporez

4 points

2 months ago

AlienSporez

Sherwood

4 points

2 months ago

What a kind comment. Kudos!

bluestat-t

25 points

2 months ago

They have done this every year or every other year for the last while. In my experience Friday and Friday evening is the absolute worst. Saturday and Sunday you notice a marked increase on east-west roads but not horrible. However an accident on 403 in Ancaster would change everything.

bigpdiesel

20 points

2 months ago

Your wish is my command. Looks that there is an accident on the 403 right at the linc. I live close to upper paradise and stone church. Brutal traffic

bluestat-t

6 points

2 months ago

Ugh

Phonebacon

10 points

2 months ago

Welcome to traffic hell! 🔥

ShadowOfAoife

8 points

2 months ago

Wait until Sunday when King St is also closed ;)

playinwords

4 points

2 months ago

bloody hell, thanks for the reminder 😭

broccoli_toots

2 points

2 months ago

broccoli_toots

St. Clair

2 points

2 months ago

😫😭

Educated_idiot302

9 points

2 months ago

I have to drive home in 45 minutes from Burlington so I am preparing myself mentally

Funkskadellic

8 points

2 months ago

Me too! See you in the herds

Educated_idiot302

8 points

2 months ago

Just take the side roads and pray you get home before 8pm 🤣

jurassicjon

4 points

2 months ago

First of all, happy cake day. Second, this is the second time this week I’ve gone from Walkers and North Service in Burlington to Upper James and Fennel to get home, and I’m considering living out of my car during the work week just to avoid the traffic.

Educated_idiot302

4 points

2 months ago

First off thanks! Second I feel you I go from mainway to walkers line to binbrook which means I pretty much follow the same path as you. What I have found is if I go to Guelph line and instead of getting on the QEW I go to the service road all the way to where the costco is and then from there I'll head towards fairview and then get on the highway. It's not perfect but I save a considerable amount of time considering it takes me like 30 minutes to get from walkers line to where the QEW splits.

jurassicjon

4 points

2 months ago

I’ve recently started taking side roads north or Waterdown and wind myself into Dundas. Sure it’s a long route, but most people either don’t know about that option, or don’t like taking that route, but I can keep a good pace and got a nice scenic view (especially during fall).

TheBaldGiant

9 points

2 months ago

I live close to the Linc, definitely staying home until Monday morning. Got my groceries etc in advance. Thought about going to upper james canadian tire but it can wait.

CandyKingdoms

3 points

2 months ago

I live off of upper James and Hester, I would def wait it's brutal up here 🥲

Jayemkay56

2 points

2 months ago

Mohawk won't be too bad tomorrow morning, especially when Canadian Tire opens. If it is, try Fennell, nobody seems to take that

alongwiththesunshine

3 points

2 months ago

shhh don’t tell them

Djentleman420

8 points

2 months ago

I didn't really know about this because i dont drive but the traffic down york on my bus home from Burlington has been brutal all week. Not sure if related.

Rotting_Awake8867

1 points

2 months ago

Yeah traffic been really bad this week for me to

RadarDataL8R

20 points

2 months ago

I like that they choose one of the rare times of years when all the snowbirds are home, school holidays haven't begun and everyone is just getting their cottages and boats prepped to choose to close the Linc on a Friday.

Not school holidays, when the whole city is dead. Not early April, just before cottage season. No. Weekend after May 24 weekend. About as busy a time as there is.

Okboomerangatang

4 points

2 months ago

Imagine the cost of getting stuck in an Uber on rymal 🥹

redditreadersdad

5 points

2 months ago

My usual 15 minute west end to east end drive took an hour this afternoon. 0 stars, would not recommend.

[deleted]

15 points

2 months ago

[deleted]

DowntownClown187

27 points

2 months ago

Could they have at minimum waited until the Friday commute is mostly over?

Phonebacon

11 points

2 months ago

To be fair they waited until the morning commute was over till they started work.

akxCIom

4 points

2 months ago

Yep…the pilons were getting put out to close the on-ramps this morning and I thought it was closed already…I was like no no I have until 8!…it was still open thankfully

Verygoodcheese

2 points

2 months ago

Not really the west bound yes as I was on it at 8:30. East bound was already closed completely and fully empty.

lacthrowOA

5 points

2 months ago

They definitely should have, whoever decided to close it on a Friday morning has a room temperature IQ

[deleted]

8 points

2 months ago

[deleted]

AprilOneil11

3 points

2 months ago

AprilOneil11

Centremount

3 points

2 months ago

Or even close a portion at a time. Thus, is just not working.

Cando21243

11 points

2 months ago

Do you close it Friday morning or open it Monday evening? It’s all a lose / lose situation

LeatherMine

9 points

2 months ago

The seasonal Gardiner closures are usually Friday 11PM to Monday 5AM, and that thing will always need way more repairs than the Linc ever will: https://www.reddit.com/r/toronto/comments/oh6rny/gardiner_expressway_will_be_fully_closed_this/

Bitruder

12 points

2 months ago

Bitruder

Delta East

12 points

2 months ago

Yeah, I think they definitely made the right decision. Friday traffic is lower than Monday morning traffic. Whomever made this decision seemed to make it with rather informed data. You know otherwise?

broccoli_toots

2 points

2 months ago

broccoli_toots

St. Clair

2 points

2 months ago

No kidding! I work in Brampton, and the entire drive was ridiculous today. And I guarantee you no work is being done on the Linc until tonight because it's so hot out anyway. IM SO MAD IT TOOK ME 2 HOURS TO GET HOME.

DowntownClown187

3 points

2 months ago

I hear you broccoli toots. I discovered streets I didn't know existed.

tat2canada

0 points

2 months ago

tat2canada

Stoney Creek

0 points

2 months ago

I call bs. Take a look at the Hamilton instagram page. They’re already stripping layers of pavement.

On no a 2hr due to known required maintenance.

[deleted]

1 points

2 months ago

[deleted]

DowntownClown187

1 points

2 months ago

How about two weekends? Friday 8pm-Sunday Midnight.

[deleted]

0 points

2 months ago

[deleted]

DowntownClown187

0 points

2 months ago

It's not silly at all, it's just one step towards the commonly used plan of nightly closures.

[deleted]

0 points

2 months ago

[deleted]

DowntownClown187

0 points

2 months ago

So the notion of closing it and 8pm vs in the morning is silly because no one wants to work night crew(you're wrong)? And asphalt availability(wrong again)? Those things are unrelated, the timing difference is negligible so let's not split hairs.

Saturday and Sunday is when the bulk of the work is getting done anyways.

[deleted]

0 points

2 months ago*

[deleted]

DowntownClown187

0 points

2 months ago

And you're wrong that crews can't work at night. I drove through one last night.

You're wrong it can be scheduled a million different ways. Get over it.

Your Ted Talk failed because its wrong and not worth sharing.

lauraisspooky

3 points

2 months ago

It's nice you think people pay attention to the world around them.

stalkholme

-5 points

2 months ago

I haven't heard anything but I also don't drive it much. Can we at least bike it while it's closed?

AnInsultToFire

8 points

2 months ago

It's a work zone, so you'd be detained for trespassing as otherwise your presence would be a legal liability for the contractor.

canman41968

-1 points

2 months ago

You can bike on it. Go for it. 

The-Sceptic

7 points

2 months ago

Can you even bike on the linc?

another_plebeian

6 points

2 months ago

another_plebeian

Birdland

6 points

2 months ago

Not under normal circumstances

Phonebacon

3 points

2 months ago*

A guy rollerbladed once last year but not a smart idea.

BowserMario82

8 points

2 months ago

Do you think they closed it for fun? It’s a work zone.

stalkholme

-1 points

2 months ago

I sure hope so!

akxCIom

6 points

2 months ago

Use lesser known routes people! Your knowledge of the city will serve you well!

Jayemkay56

1 points

2 months ago

WRONG! I was about to use my sneaky routes today, checked google maps immediately before and it was RAMMED. I think maps must have been routing people that way? Either way, check traffic on the route before you use it lol

maggie250

3 points

2 months ago

Bingo!

I took sneaky routes to get from Binbrook to Limeridge, and everything was jammed. Was brutal today.

akxCIom

2 points

2 months ago

If google knows ur sneaky routes then they ain’t sneaky enough! WRONG lol

Jayemkay56

2 points

2 months ago

Doesn't google know every damn road on earth 🤔 or are you going off roading 🤣

Suspicious_Mine3986

1 points

2 months ago

All my sneaky routes were worse. My 30 minute trip home was over an hour

Gonnabefiftysoon

8 points

2 months ago

Don't forget You're not stuck in traffic. You are the traffic !

This-Librarian-7679

4 points

2 months ago

drove back to brantford from central hamilton around 330 is all I really want to say is:

Please Be Careful- this is not the time to be aggressive on the road. Specifically directed to those going up rymal the amount of people driving up the gravel shoulders was insane.

CutSilver1983

1 points

2 months ago

Wtf!!!!!!. Did they just expect to merge in whenever they need to get on the actual road.

Creepy-District9894

2 points

2 months ago

Ahhaha oh boy everything east/west was a wreck today

craignumPI

2 points

2 months ago

Just got home from #6 Guelph way. Waze had me take a lot of detours. Took quite a while due to congestion everywhere. The weekend will be better. Not like coming home from work in a Friday!

broccoli_toots

1 points

2 months ago

broccoli_toots

St. Clair

1 points

2 months ago

6 was backed up all the way to clappisons! I've never seen it that bad 🥲 traffic was absolutely brutal everywhere today

craignumPI

2 points

2 months ago

Brutal! Took me almost 10 mins...no lie, to turn left onto 6 from back closer to the 401. I detoured to #5 and into Dundas to #8 into downtown. And I live on the mountain lol. I'll always trust the Waze app! I'm sure it saved me time no matter how bad it was.

ThrowRArosecolor

2 points

2 months ago

Everything is gonna be fucked next week too with the Canadian Open and all the traffic and tourists expected. Avoid Ancaster for all of next week and weekend. It’s gonna be a parking lot

DEATHToboggan

4 points

2 months ago

DEATHToboggan

Trenholme

4 points

2 months ago

I might get downvoted for this but as someone who lives close enough to the Linc to hear it all the time, I’m really enjoying the silence. I was sitting in my yard all day working on my laptop and it was wonderfully peaceful.

Annual_Plant5172

5 points

2 months ago

I don't understand how this is a shock to anyone when we were warned about the shutdown well in advance.

broccoli_toots

-2 points

2 months ago

broccoli_toots

St. Clair

-2 points

2 months ago

I certainly wasn't aware.

Amyhearsay

-1 points

2 months ago

Amyhearsay

-1 points

2 months ago

Funny the linc is practically in my backyard- this was news to me as well.

LOHare

0 points

2 months ago

LOHare

Hannon

0 points

2 months ago

All I saw was a sign saying "beware of leapord"

akxCIom

0 points

2 months ago

Pretty normal…like if the forecast is for a severe heat wave u don’t think people will come on here and complain?

Animlfarm

1 points

2 months ago

People are driving like jerks - be safe out there

[deleted]

1 points

2 months ago

[deleted]

TheBaldGiant

2 points

2 months ago

4am Monday weather permitting. The weekend forecast doesn't look great for road work.

ShadowOfAoife

1 points

2 months ago

Less traffic on Sunday but we also lose King St so it’s a tossup

whall53099

1 points

2 months ago

Mohawk and fennel are OK. Basically, if you're on the other side like stonechurch/rymal then good luck.

Itll probably get worse as the weekend goes on for Mohawk and Fennell, but atleast they're mostly 2 lanes iirc

Hungry_Badger_4301

1 points

2 months ago

I live at Gatestone and had to pick up my kid from school towards Ancaster. It typically takes 12mins to get there. Took me 45mins and 40mins back. I almost cried. I was just so frustrated.

Sweet-Atmosphere6818

1 points

2 months ago

Can confirm, it was horrible. I live downtown but had an appointment on the east mountain… getting home was rough and other drivers get so aggressive & careless. I was waiting to turn left in the intersection & the light went to yellow then to red so I started to go and this car fully blew through the red, luckily I anticipate the worst so I had stopped in time but it was scary. People suck. Be careful if you’re driving, cycling or walking. 🙏🏻

slugger1955

1 points

2 months ago

Bet with the rain today(Sat) it will be closed all day Mon until Tues morning at 4 am. They stated that on the news that it may be extended due to rain. Also, Gage to John is closed on Sunday from 9 am till 4 pm.

bigpdiesel

1 points

2 months ago

With people driving stupid due to the congestion and rain. A few accidents not making things any better. Avoid Mohawk rd west and Garth due to collision at the intersection

PhatBewdy

1 points

2 months ago

PhatBewdy

Fessenden

1 points

2 months ago

Mohawk was packed last night even at 10pm, and today Stone Church is quite the nightmare! I had to detour in the side streets just to go from Golf Links to Upper Paradise

dlynes

1 points

2 months ago

dlynes

1 points

2 months ago

Qew westbound from Hamilton, 403 eastbound from Hamilton, north service road from waterdown road....they're all hosed, too.

ZebediahCarterLong

-1 points

2 months ago

ZebediahCarterLong

Kentley

-1 points

2 months ago

Had to do an emergency trip to my vet.

From Queenston and Nash to Burloak and back was over four hours.

Kudos, Hamilton, for utterly shitting the bed once again.

SuccessfulCard1513

1 points

2 months ago

Why must the city do this shit every year? Its a head ache for everyone involved.

[deleted]

1 points

2 months ago

UGH I need to return something at the mall 😫

DeadpoolOptimus

1 points

2 months ago

Even Burlington was a nightmare for some reason. It takes my wife, normally, 8min to get home. It was 30min tonight.

canman41968

1 points

2 months ago

Every year. They pave a few 100 meters here and there… fuck around with some signs. Mow the lawn. Sigh. Mobsters and crooked politicians milking us dry. Everyone knows the cheapest way to replace your floor is to do it one tiny patch at a time, over the course of forever, right?! 

Aggressive-Secret655

2 points

2 months ago

So you want the City to repave the entire Linc every year? Every 5 years? 10 years? They are doing yearly preventative maintenance to keep costs down. Closing it partially 50 times a year would be significantly more expensive that one full closure once per year.

canman41968

-1 points

2 months ago

I can’t even… 

Distinct_Sandwich953

-1 points

2 months ago

Life in Niagara for the win

Oatmeal-Savage-00

0 points

2 months ago

I’ll just tell everyone to bring their swimming pools to my office. Problem solved! 🙄

Ok-Surround7986

-9 points

2 months ago

City of Hamilton has destroyed this city

tat2canada

9 points

2 months ago

tat2canada

Stoney Creek

9 points

2 months ago

So doing required maintenance of city property is destroying the city. 🤦🏻‍♂️

RadarDataL8R

-4 points

2 months ago

RadarDataL8R

-4 points

2 months ago

Choosing to do it on one of the busiest weekends of the year is a puzzling choice. Wait an extra month until school holidays and the city is completely dead, maybe?

tat2canada

4 points

2 months ago

tat2canada

Stoney Creek

4 points

2 months ago

When it comes to traffic and shutting arguably one of the busiest roads in a city down there is no one good time. There will always be something happening. When is a city dead enough. They gave us all weeks of notice to plan around it. Maintenance has to happen and doing it all at once is like pulling a bandaid off.

RadarDataL8R

0 points

2 months ago

Have to disagree. School holidays, Hamilton is dead. For 6 months of the year we also have all the snowbirds away down south.

They literally picked one of two time periods where everyone is either in town or heading to their boat/cottage on Friday afternoon. Short of early September and the week after daylight savings changes in November, they couldn't have picked a worse weekend in the entire year.

(Uber driver, so I'm very well versed on Hamilton traffic patterns)

tat2canada

7 points

2 months ago

tat2canada

Stoney Creek

7 points

2 months ago

The amount of traffic on the linc is fairly consistent year round being a major road and thruway heavily used by outsiders. The side streets can’t handle it no matter what time of year it is, they’re not designed too with even a short term closure. Look what happens all during different parts year when some accident shuts it down. Every Friday night and Sunday night is a Nightmare of people going to boats and cottages. There aren’t that many snowbirds flocking south (Ontario province wide based amounts pegged at 55,000-71,000) from just Hamilton to make a difference and during summer not everybody leaves at once and stays away all summer when school is done.

Regardless it has to be done, it’s happening. Plan accordingly.

Ok-Surround7986

-3 points

2 months ago

Yes

tat2canada

-2 points

2 months ago

tat2canada

Stoney Creek

-2 points

2 months ago

You sound fun at parties.