Traffic tie-ups near bridge making some Charlottetown students late for school | CBC News

Heavy morning traffic in Charlottetown has been making some students coming in from Stratford and other parts of eastern P.E.I. late for school, the school bus drivers’ union says.

For some bus drivers, construction projects at the entrance to Charlottetown from the Hillsborough Bridge are causing delays of more than half an hour, according to Rob Harding, vice-president of CUPE 1145. That’s the union representing school bus drivers on the island.

“There are some days, man, you could have 15 different routes planned out and it’s not happening — the delay is there,” Harding said. “It’s been tough.”

In an email statement to CBC News, P.E.I.’s Public Schools Branch acknowledged traffic delays were causing some buses to be late for pickups, transfers and school drop-offs.

“Parents, guardians and students are reassured that staff and the PSB are working to minimize the impacts in every way possible,” the statement read.

Although traffic has been caused some delays since the start of the school year in early September, Harding said this past week has been the worst so far.

And bus drivers aren’t alone in their experience. Stories of lengthy delays have been a common refrain this week among commuters entering Charlottetown via the Hillsborough Bridge.

Multiple construction projects

For months, road crews have been reshaping the bridge entrance to the city as part of the Eastern Gateway master plan.

The new intersection at Water and Grafton streets reopened Saturday, though some work remains. The intersection’s first big test came on Tuesday morning after the long weekend, and many commuters gave it a failing grade.

This week definitely has been harder on our drivers.— Rob Harding, vice-president CUPE 1145

“This week definitely has been harder on our drivers,” Harding said.

Water Street now connects to Grafton east of Joe Ghiz Park, instead of at the intersection by the western end of Hillsborough Bridge. The old section of road from Water Street to the bridge is closed to traffic.

Harding said that closure is causing bus drivers significant issues, forcing them to sit in stop-and-go, single-lane traffic.

And he isn’t optimistic the situation will get much better until construction wraps up.

Improvements made Tuesday night, city says

After “significant delays” Tuesday morning, the city and province implemented some key changes in time for Wednesday’s commute, said Scott Adams, manager of public works with the City of Charlottetown.

The city introduced a new diversion for drivers leaving Charlottetown on Grafton Street, Adams said. The change is letting traffic flow more freely into the city and has cut wait times for those coming across the bridge, he said — down from upwards of an hour to around 15 or 20 minutes.

The province also adjusted the timing of its traffic signals at the existing intersection near the bridge, he added.

Everyone’s scrambling to finish the work.— Scott Adams, Charlottetown’s manager of public works

The city is hoping to see concrete poured and asphalt laid by sometime next week, weather permitting.

“Everyone’s scrambling to finish the work,” Adams said.

As for bus drivers, Harding is looking forward to a time when he can leave construction in the rear-view mirror.

“I’m sure in six months’ time, this will all be just a nice little blur,” he said. “That’s what we’re hoping for, anyway — that it’ll be taken care of and we’ll get back to normal.”