(RESOLVED) New Leading Dual Right Turns & Lagging Dual Left Turns at Eglinton & Allen Rd in Toronto!

The intersection of Eglinton Ave W at the Allen Road Expressway northbound onramp fully reopened last year!
maps.app.goo.g...
This is a T-intersection.
The westbound approach has 2 dedicated right turn lanes and one through lane.
The eastbound approach has 2 dedicated left turn lanes and one through lane.
There is no southbound approach, since the northbound onramp is a one way northbound.
Originally when this intersection first reopened, the eastbound left turns were leading, and the westbound right turns were lagging. Recently, the city reversed the order of traffic signal phasing. So now, westbound right turns lead and eastbound left turns lag.
When you think of it, it actually makes sense because there is less distance to cover between the stop line and the crosswalk if you're turning right, compared to if you're turning left. Right turns would clear sooner than left turns when the leading right turn phase terminates. Also, if pedestrians don't comply and are still in the crosswalk, there is more distance to cover between the stop line and the crosswalk if you're turning left, compared to if you're turning right.
Remember, there is no northbound or southbound "approach" at this intersection. There are only vehicle signals for eastbound and westbound.
This is the first intersection that I know of in Toronto to have dual right turns that lead at the beginning of a cycle!
For traffic signal timing:
- Westbound receives a leading right turn phase, while east/west has a through only arrow.
- Next, pedestrians and cyclists at the north leg crosswalk receive their green light, while eastbound and westbound have a through only arrow.
- Lastly, eastbound receives a lagging left turn phase. Pedestrians using the east leg crosswalk also receive the walk signal during the eastbound lagging left turn phase. East/west through traffic has a red light.
Because traffic volumes turning onto the Allen Road Expressway are very high, the following has been done:
- Every pedestrian walk signal at this intersection is callable and only gives pedestrians the walk signal if the button is pushed. Otherwise, it gets replaced with additional time for through traffic, left turns and right turns.
- The pedestrian walk signal time was recently reduced to the minimum allowed in Toronto's (7 seconds).
- The pedestrian flashing hand countdown was reduced from 23 to 14 seconds.
- Within the next month, another 10 seconds will be added for the westbound leading right turn phase (According to the traffic agents I spoke with over there)!
- Programmable visibility was added at these two closely spaced intersections, to allow for non simultaneous yellow, red or green intervals to better coordinate the traffic signals, to keep traffic moving well!

[@WestCoastTrafficSignals]

You’re right, the new phasing does make much more sense!

[@ttc_flaw7964]

I am just wondering, how come these traffic lights specially have something on them that is unique and i have never seen before. As from certain angles is where you can only see the traffic lights, and other angles it disappears?

[@jacksonbourrettransportati9852]

@@ttc_flaw7964 That type of traffic signal that only lights up from certain angles is programmable visibility.
It's used when two or more signalized intersections are closely spaced (for example, within 100 meters).
For example, a driver is waiting at a red light at the first intersection. The second intersection 100 meters ahead is displaying a green light. If the driver is looking at the green light 100 meters ahead, they might accidentally get distracted and run the red light they are currently stopped at.
Programmable visibility signals are built to make the signals only light up within about 25 meters before the intersection, and only if you're directly in its center view the signal head is facing.
The distances and the angles where the signal indications light up can be adjusted manually as well depending on the road and intersection angles.
Toronto is starting to use more programmable visibility signals these days to improve safety and driver clarification.
Hope this helps! 🙂