Times Colonist E-edition

Regional plan needed for transportation

John Ducker has noted in his Driving column that the McKenzie interchange was “chock-a-block” with traffic heading north in the mid- to late afternoon.

This is not the exception. I’ve noted that this is the norm now as dense traffic from Saanich along McKenzie attempts to merge with the usual Colwood/Langford crush from the downtown core.

Barely two years after it was completed, the McKenzie interchange is already well on its way to being a choke point again. Who did not see that coming? Anyone?

Literally within days of the project’s completion, builders on Bear Mountain gleefully announced that it was full speed ahead with development because the interchange would let residents reach downtown in less than 10 minutes.

Saanich continues unabated with plans to approve high-density developments along the McKenzie corridor to add to the misery.

It’s proof — again — that simply building more roads to solve traffic congestion doesn’t work if unchecked development overwhelms it.

Before councils throughout the region continue the rush to density, maybe they should first establish a comprehensive regional transportation plan. And maybe they should take a hard look at their cosy relationships with developers who are only to happy to encourage the race to densify.

Mike Laplante Victoria

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2023-02-07T08:00:00.0000000Z

2023-02-07T08:00:00.0000000Z

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