'No good way to go': Construction makes Cornwall commute hopeless
Construction is expected to be complete by the end of this month
Cornwall commuters tried alternate routes into Charlottetown Thursday morning, but no one seemed to be able to find a way into the city that didn't involve long queues of traffic.
Crews are putting down the final layer of asphalt on the two new roundabouts at Poplar Island and Maypoint. That will reduce traffic to one lane of traffic in each direction. At times,traffic was stopped completely.
Truckers were asked to find another route around the project area. Everyone else was asked to watch for flaggers and be courteous.
Traffic was backed up across the North River causeway as a result of the construction work.
But commuters on Twitter complained alternate routes were no better, or were perhaps, worse.
<a href="https://twitter.com/thetravelstore1">@thetravelstore1</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CornwallPE">@cornwallpe</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/islandmorning">@islandmorning</a> There is no good way to go! Route 2 is backed up ridiculously.
—@cdnejewell
Extra 35 mins to get to work and I avoided the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/causeway?src=hash">#causeway</a> and the route 2 construction zone <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/milkyway?src=hash">#milkyway</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/islandmorning">@islandmorning</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/frustrated?src=hash">#frustrated</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/beyond?src=hash">#beyond</a>
—@HastelowSThere is no good way into town today for <a href="https://twitter.com/CornwallPE">@CornwallPE</a> residents. Currently backed up 1.5 km on North York River road from Rt 2 and it's slow.
—@rosalynclaireThe department of transportation hopes people can be patient, and the key is a little extra time, even if you are taking an alternative route, like Route 2.
"Take your time be careful there are people working in that area so give yourself a little extra time to get to where you need to go." said Darrell Evans, assistant director of capital projects.
Evans said the the bulk of the traffic delays should be wrapped up by the end of the week.
"We suspect the paving to be wrapped up Friday, we're looking at probably doing some paint lines over the next couple of days as well and possibly into next week" he said.
"There's still some work in terms of landscaping and we still have to pave the shared pedestrian bikeway on the south side so there's still some work to continue, but I suspect the bulk of the traffic congestion today and tomorrow should be cleaned up by next week."
Evans said the first phase is still on a good timeline, and is set to be wrapped by the end of November.
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