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Roadwork stressing Gorge, Craigflower area

Re: When will the roadwork end? (News, Nov. 29). This question has been asked by many of us living in southwest Saanich and beyond.

Re: When will the roadwork end? (News, Nov. 29)

This question has been asked by many of us living in southwest Saanich and beyond.

I think we all recognize that infrastructure needs to be upgraded, maintained or replaced, but in this area we’ve had project after project in less than five years.

First, there was the smaller bridge on Admirals Road. On our street this year, we had sidewalk construction and road re-surfacing from February to May which essentially closed the road. Gorge Road West has been closed since early July for what was to be a three month upgrade and replacement of pipes.

Both Lori Lelonde of Your Pet Pals, and Kim Reynhoudt of Canadian Tire, have every reason to be upset because as they have pointed out they have had to endure the impact of major road/bridge construction since 2009, and now the Craigflower Bridge replacement.

Those not personally and financially affected by this construction are able to say they feel badly for those who are, but that doesn’t really cut it when you’ve lost 30 per cent of your business or more, and in Lelonde’s case, choosing to take a second job so she can use the proceeds from her business to keep her three employees employed.

I’m not sure how the employees of the View Royal Town Hall (and I’m not saying it’s their fault) would respond if they were told that due to renovations of their building, their salaries would be cut by 30 per cent until the project was completed. I haven’t heard the word “compensation” mentioned anywhere.

As Kim Reynhoudt states, clear communication has been lacking with regard to both the bridge and the Gorge road closures, and one has to wonder what the cost overruns are on projects of this magnitude.

And, why the issue of seismic safety didn’t come up before the bridge was already well under construction, I have no idea. A friend of mine jokes about this, “Oh, you mean you wanted it to be earthquake proof too!”

Yes, we all want it to be safe, and I also want the businesses in the area to be saved and remain open.

Lucy Bashford

Saanich