Just 10 days after the City of London closed Western Drive Bridge students are more unhappy than ever with the difficulties they face getting to class.
Fourth-year Western student Courtney Mann says that after having a routine for the past 3 years, the bridge closure has made her have to re-navigate every morning. She lives in downtown London and says that when the bridge closed, she feels the city did nothing to help motorists find new ways to campus. She is frustrated that there was a lack of alternative motor paths provided by the city and drivers now have to face the congestion caused by the bridge closure.
“They closed the bridge and kind of just said deal with it, now we are dealing with it, but every other way to get to campus either takes too long or is surrounded by construction”
– Courtney Mann (4th year Western Student)
This bridge closure seems to be affecting not only students living downtown London but locals as well. With the construction on Wharncliffe road heading to Western Campus, the bridge closure, and all existing construction in the downtown core, people have complained that it makes traffic almost impossible to navigate through.
The City of London’s website has a map of three major construction zones available to the public, but it fails to mention construction more prominent to students. It depicts the York, Talbot, and Dundas construction zones which have been causing traffic in the downtown core but leaves out smaller zones that cause additional traffic.
The streets of London continue to fill with traffic not only during rush hour but for most hours of the day. Courtney Mann is just one student affected by the road conditions and says she would be willing to speak to whoever possible to see a change for students.
