Correspondence from James Burrough Re: Helmcken on ramp onto #1 highway
Citizen inquiry regarding traffic congestion and merging issues at the Helmcken Road on-ramp to Highway No. 1.
Question about Helmcken on ramp onto #1 highway
From: James Burrough
Sent: June-15-18 10:01 AM
To: Mayor And Council Email mayorandcouncil@viewroyal.ca
Subject: Question about Helmcken on ramp onto #1 highway
Dear Mayor Screech and View Royal Council,
I have been a resident of View Royal for about 3 years now and live the Stoneridge Estates area just behind the hospital. Everyday, I commute into Victoria on a daily.
As part of my route, I have to get onto Helmcken, cross over the overpass, and turn left onto the on ramp for the #1 highway. I wondered now for many years, why is it that highway traffic coming from further out in the Westshore area is allowed to essentially jump this overpass by merging off the highway, going straight over the overpass only to immediately merge back onto the highway?
I understand this past week has been especially bad with the light change that was made at the McKenzie interchange. However, this has been a longstanding issue now for years.
There have been numerous occassions where that on ramp becomes super back up, the the point it both impedes traffic coming along Helmcken from the other direction and prevents cars from simply turning left on the on ramp. All because I watch literally hundreds of cars every day exit the highway only the be allowed to merge right back on.
It makes absolutely no sense to me. Why is this allowed and what is the reasoning? Why hasn't this been addressed?
Kind regards, James Burrough