"the other option is worse" is it really? What are your other options, plural? Are there other possible routes?

Are you the only person riding this section? If not, take political action with other riders.

The core problem is 55 mph = 81 fps. Assuming typical law enforcement allowance of 5 mph greater than posted and often 10 mph, 90+ fps is likely. If you're using a typical commuter bike, you're probably doing under 17 mph <25 fps.

So you're looking at likely car-bike closing speeds of 65+ fps. That means if a driver sees you at 150 feet ahead (half the length of a football field), they have a little more than 2 seconds to react and respond to your presence.

Frankly, in my experience as a driver and cyclist, it is quite common for drivers to consciously notice cyclists ahead at such a distance range. Even 100 feet is common in semi-heavy traffic. In your case that would be about 1.5 seconds for driver reaction-and-collision-avoidance time.

If enough people are commuting and must use your route, perhaps you can lobby officials for flashing-yellow-light signs that show "40 MPH, [bicycle symbol] AHEAD". If you're the lone user, forget about it.

You're only recourse, if this route is truly the only one possible (and I would consider an alternative that took say 30 minutes more, with slower car traffic, to constitute a sensible option) is to take extraordinary measures to enhance your visibility to make drivers consciously aware of your presence at a distance of greater than 300 feet to give them more than 4 seconds to respond.

What you're doing is forcing drivers to react in unconscious-reflexive mode rather than calm-calculated response mode. That's always a bad idea.

At very least, I would strongly urge you to run two 6-ft high flag poles angled a bit outward from vertical on each side of your bike with not just one, but several multi-bright-colored triangular flags, whose flapping motion will catch drivers' attention, and be visible by drivers behind other cars (although not trucks), plus two DiNotte 200L flashing taillights, yellow if legally allowed, each aimed not directly backward, but at a 20-degree outward angle, in addition to the standard hi-viz-yellow or road-crew-orange jacket / jersey.

If you think with these closing speeds and driver reaction times a conventional hi-viz yellow top is sufficient to safely warn drivers of your presence in time to avert collision in every case, you're going to find out one of these days that you're mistaken.

I wish you good luck. But remember, luck favors those who make smart preparations.

Life is more important than cycling. If there are truly no alternative routes without adding an additional 15 miles to your commute, it's time to switch from a bi-cycle to a motor-cycle.

which road is this locally; where is this section?

What about someone that is unable to obtain a drivers license for medical (or other) reasons? Should they have to rely on others ferrying them around to get them where they need to go?

Giving in is not the answer. Its both finding the best way of making do in the current situation and igniting change to make things more ideal in the future.

The road you note there definately looks pretty bad.. When it came up on my screen if I scroll back a few hundred feet there it a single lane merger that would have to be crossed too.
In that case though Bathurst Street one to the west looks like a viable alternative? Of course it depends on where your going and from the ground Bathurst Street might be impassable to bike.

To the OP I have a similar situation on my commute but the rate of speed it is only about 45mph speed limit. There is about 200 yards where I'm in the center lane rather then the right lane because that is a RTOL lane onto a highway. Other cyclists think I am nuts but it is the most efficient way through in my experience. People in the right lane are going to go right or can merge after they pass me very easily. People going straight can move to the left to pass me as they normally would and being in the lane and in their face means they do it earlier so give the mergers more time to see me because the passers aren't sqeezing by me.

Most times I do prefer to take an alternate longer route even though it means a rough road and playing with alot more tractor trailers.

What would I do?

Move to a better city.

I know most people here will disagree, but I would take the sidewalk if there is one and get back on the road when the cars aren't whizzing past at 55-65mph. I am from N.C. and from my memories, the sidewalks are empty anyway..