Need for Road Repairs: Public Demands Improved Communication and Attentive Listening
In the heart of Ontario, the city of Burlington has been grappling with traffic congestion, particularly during weekends on Lakeshore Road. The Gazette recently received a note from a resident, Dennis Hewko of North Shore Boulevard East, expressing his concerns about commuters using side roads as a bypass during QEW traffic congestion.
Hewko, a local resident, suggested closing the access ramps to the QEW southbound from Lakeshore and Northshore to prevent this issue. He believes that such a measure would enable citizens to access the downtown core, enjoy the waterfront, restaurants, and shops instead of sitting in a traffic gridlock for hours.
The Mayor's Office responded to Hewko's email, acknowledging the disruption caused by the construction on provincially owned highways. The City's Transportation team communicates with the Ministry of Transportation about projects affecting Burlington, and they are currently advocating for a more open dialogue to address this issue.
The Hon. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria, the Minister of Transportation, has recognized the need for careful coordination with the City of Burlington to communicate and ease local traffic impacts. Hewko expressed his disappointment that the City of Burlington did not communicate with the Ministry to have the access ramps closed during the QEW traffic congestion.
The traffic congestion is due to road closures related to maintenance work on certain lanes, particularly on the Burlington Skyway Bridge, which needs maintenance. The Ministry of Transportation has initiated the decision not to close the Lakeshore and North Shore accesses to the QEW during these maintenance works to avoid further traffic congestion in Burlington.
However, Hewko is disappointed that the City of Burlington has not taken action to minimize the impact of lane closures on the citizens of Burlington. Hewko is not alone in his concerns, as the city has been criticized for poor communication from the Ministry of Transportation.
Better notice from the Ministry of Transportation would help minimize spillover impacts during necessary maintenance. The Ministry has committed to more communication with drivers and looking at additional mitigation measures during Burlington Skyway Bridge lane closures.
Mayor Meed Ward met with the Hon. Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria at the AMO conference, discussing the need for improved communication and collaboration between the city and the province to address traffic issues like these. With a collaborative approach, the city and the province can work towards easing traffic congestion and ensuring a smoother commute for Burlington residents.
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