# James Bay Road (The Arcticbahn) **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Automotive\ **Created:** [August 23, 2012, 12:46pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/james-bay-road-the-arcticbahn/225485 "2012-08-23T12:46:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Onyx\_Z32](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/onyx_z32/32/7581_2.png) [@Onyx\_Z32](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Onyx_Z32)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 12:46pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/james-bay-road-the-arcticbahn/225485/1 "2012-08-23T12:46:31Z")
Any of the Canadian guys been on this thing? I’ve been reading reviews by people on motorcycles and even a Prius making the trip up to Radisson. Apparently the road is clear and wide open for what seems like forever. The terrain is mostly flat but the road is in great condition and fun to drive. It’s very remote and nearly silent. No signs of police or anything really, lol. You can drive for hours at high speed according to one motorcycle guy. And you have to ‘check in’ before leaving on the road… in case you don’t come back? ![http://www.jamesbayroad.com/jbr/overviewmap_sm.jpg](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/3X/3/b/3bab02dff85b10a18be7f2c3fa11992c49b58017.jpeg) ![http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/be/Route_de_la_Baie_James1.JPG/450px-Route_de_la_Baie_James1.JPG](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/3X/6/a/6abb1c2bfbded2c85fdc760f057a3d0aa36a6524.jpeg) [http://www.jamesbayroad.com/](http://www.jamesbayroad.com/) > **[James Bay Road](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Bay_Road)** > > The James Bay Road (French: Route de la Baie James), officially the Route Billy-Diamond Highway, is a remote wilderness highway winding its way through the Canadian Shield in northwestern Quebec and reaches into the James Bay region. It starts in Matagami as an extension of Route 109 and ends at Radisson. The road is fully paved, well maintained, and plowed during the winter. It was originally constructed to carry loads of 300 tons and has mostly gentle curves and hills with wide shoulders. Th On... Eastman river bridge: (for Newman :snky: ) ![http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2498/3769398781_4f76ed8903_b.jpg](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/3X/b/6/b6295b13c1c1457e9cdaddd7c13e8f8b1bb04afb.jpeg) ![http://straight-six.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/19th-post12.jpg](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/3X/e/2/e2753ad505e54477674949c1e19a371ca42ce98a.jpeg) Here’s one account of a trip from a guy who drove his X6: [http://straight-six.com/blog/?p=332](http://straight-six.com/blog/?p=332) > For more than 600 kilometres, the James Bay Road cuts a wide, two-lane swath of pavement without Draconian speed laws, stop-and-go traffic, clogged intersections, stop signs – or any of the other daily driving obstacles known as “modern civilization.” > > Constructed in the early 1970s to transport workers and materials to build a massive hydroelectric project in northern Quebec, the road is a series of lengthy straightaways connected by fast sweeping curves. > > It’s known as the longest service-free stretch of road in Canada, and the second-longest service-free stretch of road in North America, after the highway up to Alaska’s Prudhoe Bay. > > To enthusiasts, however, interested in the freedom of open road driving, some consider it Canada’s own Arcticbahn. > > …In one particular stretch, I learn that if you get the two front wheels of the X6 airborne, the ABS kicks in. > > …In these conditions, outside the confines of urban driving, it’s easy to drive here as fast the road allows. > > In the BMW, that means stretches – and I mean tens of kilometres here – cruising around 140 km/h. Effortlessly. Just like the engineers in Munich and the driving gods had intended. ![http://straight-six.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/19th-post3-1024x404.jpg](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/3X/7/5/75343cd68f2970cc6a88522755cbace543d982de.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![1sik\_bmw](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/1sik_bmw/32/7341_2.png) [@1sik\_bmw](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/1sik_bmw)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 12:57pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/james-bay-road-the-arcticbahn/225485/2 "2012-08-23T12:57:04Z")
wow…looks amazing! new nyspeed summer meet location! ---
**Author:** ![MPD47](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/mpd47/32/7383_2.png) [@MPD47](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/MPD47)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 1:19pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/james-bay-road-the-arcticbahn/225485/3 "2012-08-23T13:19:51Z")
It does look sweet. But 86mph “as the germans intended”, hahahaha. That’s not even close to fast. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/2X/b/b7170c8eddc0b95ece6b88172b2f416a08489a45.png) [@system](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/system)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 1:23pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/james-bay-road-the-arcticbahn/225485/4 "2012-08-23T13:23:09Z")
> [@MPD47](#): > > It does look sweet. But 86mph “as the germans intended”, hahahaha. That’s not even close to fast. Oh shit, lol. I skimmed the text and read it as 140 **M** ph which sounds about right. ---
**Author:** ![tpgsr](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/tpgsr/32/7374_2.png) [@tpgsr](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/tpgsr)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 1:24pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/james-bay-road-the-arcticbahn/225485/5 "2012-08-23T13:24:23Z")
In. ---
**Author:** ![Onyx\_Z32](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/onyx_z32/32/7581_2.png) [@Onyx\_Z32](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Onyx_Z32)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 1:55pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/james-bay-road-the-arcticbahn/225485/6 "2012-08-23T13:55:15Z")
I’m sure his speed is based on the conditions and turns of the road. And I’d hate to roll an SUV in the middle of nowhere, lol. But this looks like an interesting trip for the fall. ---
**Author:** ![k.man](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/k.man/32/5790_2.png) [@k.man](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/k.man)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 1:58pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/james-bay-road-the-arcticbahn/225485/7 "2012-08-23T13:58:33Z")
![http://www.jamesbayroad.com/jbr/overviewmap_sm.jpg](http://www.jamesbayroad.com/jbr/overviewmap_sm.jpg) that looks like alot of fun, but I wouldn’t want to be stranded up there… ---
**Author:** ![Joe](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/joe/32/7219_2.png) [@Joe](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Joe)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 2:00pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/james-bay-road-the-arcticbahn/225485/8 "2012-08-23T14:00:03Z")
That looks like an awesome time. ---
**Author:** ![DJPyro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/278dde/32.png) [@DJPyro](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/DJPyro)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 2:02pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/james-bay-road-the-arcticbahn/225485/9 "2012-08-23T14:02:58Z")
I have a trip planned up there that was intended for last summer but was waylayed by unemployment. There’s a massive hydroelectric facility up there that offers tours and the like, and it has a direct line that runs to Boston. Kinda neat. There’s a now dry river half way up that was diverted to contribute to the hydro reservoir. It’s very very remote, and the scenery is bland, but it’s long, undulating, fairly straight and the asphalt is in relatively good condition. It’s a long, remote drive, but it’s awesome if that’s your thing. Do your research before going, but I’m confident it’ll be an amazing trip. Definitely not for the feint of heart or those who need city comforts. If you have something offroad worthy, you can hit the Trans-Taigian highway that leads you to the most remote road-access part of North America, nearly the other side of Ungava Bay. ---
**Author:** ![tpgsr](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/tpgsr/32/7374_2.png) [@tpgsr](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/tpgsr)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 2:40pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/james-bay-road-the-arcticbahn/225485/10 "2012-08-23T14:40:15Z")
After more reading… Definitely in. A week off, a backpack and a fishing pole would make this an even more amazing trip. ---
**Author:** ![JayS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jays/32/15375_2.png) [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 3:42pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/james-bay-road-the-arcticbahn/225485/11 "2012-08-23T15:42:25Z")
Looks like a fun long weekend trip. ---
**Author:** ![fairgentleman\_Z](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/fairgentleman_z/32/7263_2.png) [@fairgentleman\_Z](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/fairgentleman_Z)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 4:51pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/james-bay-road-the-arcticbahn/225485/12 "2012-08-23T16:51:16Z")
The problem with this road is it rhymes with James May… and that can not be a good thing. I had been thinking for a while this would be an interesting trip as well: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manicouagan\_Reservoir](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manicouagan_Reservoir) ![http://blu.stb.s-msn.com/i/23/2B1C751EBAED7F785BB5BCAB7EF.jpg](http://blu.stb.s-msn.com/i/23/2B1C751EBAED7F785BB5BCAB7EF.jpg) [http://autos.ca.msn.com/specials/road-trip-guide/gallery.aspx?cp-documentid=26569301&page=5](http://autos.ca.msn.com/specials/road-trip-guide/gallery.aspx?cp-documentid=26569301&page=5) ---
**Author:** ![JayS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jays/32/15375_2.png) [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 6:37pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/james-bay-road-the-arcticbahn/225485/13 "2012-08-23T18:37:56Z")
Captain Slow did max out a Veyron though… ---
**Author:** ![Joe](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/joe/32/7219_2.png) [@Joe](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Joe)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 7:38pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/james-bay-road-the-arcticbahn/225485/14 "2012-08-23T19:38:25Z")
> [@fairgentleman Z](#): > > The problem with this road is it rhymes with James May… and that can not be a good thing. > > I had been thinking for a while this would be an interesting trip as well: [Manicouagan Reservoir - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manicouagan_Reservoir) > > [http://autos.ca.msn.com/specials/road-trip-guide/gallery.aspx?cp-documentid=26569301&page=5](http://autos.ca.msn.com/specials/road-trip-guide/gallery.aspx?cp-documentid=26569301&page=5) That sounds like a pain in the ass. Last thing I want to do is crash my car on a dirt road in Bumfuck, Canada with no cell service or towing and questionable insurance coverage. ---
**Author:** ![Onyx\_Z32](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/onyx_z32/32/7581_2.png) [@Onyx\_Z32](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Onyx_Z32)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 8:04pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/james-bay-road-the-arcticbahn/225485/15 "2012-08-23T20:04:58Z")
Google says 27 hours to reach the end, 1,040 miles. That’s one way. So, probably 4 days to complete. And that’s as far off the grid as I’d want to be anyway. I’ve been pretty far up north but not THIS far. And I could see the northern lights then so I can only imagine how bright they’d be up at this point. ---------- Post added at 11:04 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:02 PM ---------- > [@Joe](#): > > … or towing and questionable insurance coverage. That’s not a problem. And AAA works up there and so does your US insurance. However you might need a sat-phone to place the call, lol. ---
**Author:** ![JayS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jays/32/15375_2.png) [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 4:22am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/james-bay-road-the-arcticbahn/225485/16 "2012-08-24T04:22:23Z")
Isn’t that moose country? ---
**Author:** ![LZ1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@LZ1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LZ1)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 5:38am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/james-bay-road-the-arcticbahn/225485/17 "2012-08-24T05:38:53Z")
Can you get air lifted out of there when some NYSpeed n00b crashes? ---
**Author:** ![Motocrossx23](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/motocrossx23/32/5120_2.png) [@Motocrossx23](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Motocrossx23)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 5:56am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/james-bay-road-the-arcticbahn/225485/18 "2012-08-24T05:56:29Z")
I keep reading the title as “James Bond Road” and “James May Road” ---
**Author:** ![Onyx\_Z32](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/onyx_z32/32/7581_2.png) [@Onyx\_Z32](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Onyx_Z32)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 6:05am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/james-bay-road-the-arcticbahn/225485/19 "2012-08-24T06:05:04Z")
> [@JayS](#): > > Isn’t that moose country? Yep. > [@LZ](#): > > Can you get air lifted out of there when some NYSpeed n00b crashes? This isn’t a meet thread, lol. ---
**Author:** ![newman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/newman/32/7569_2.png) [@newman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/newman)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 6:17am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/james-bay-road-the-arcticbahn/225485/20 "2012-08-24T06:17:15Z")
First I’ve heard of it. :tup: [Next page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/james-bay-road-the-arcticbahn/225485.md?page=2)