Conversion’s impact serious

Re: Brace yourself for Hamilton’s looming perma-gridlock (Feb. 27)

Picture this. In a “Hamilton anti-car world” the Main-West conversion has taken place. As pointed out in Scott Radley’s column, there are backups from the 403 onto Main Street East all the way back to the York Street exit. Those living in Dundas and Ancaster have found themselves in gridlock as they approach Dalewood on Main Street West. Some try to get off at the Toronto-bound 403 exit off of Main Street thinking they all jump to the front of the line at the next exit. That doesn’t work because they are in the beginning of the conversion as they head further east toward Dundurn.

Back to the Main Street East exit. There is a way around that. Just take the Aberdeen exit and take that as far as you can go. Oh, that’s right. You can turn right onto Herkimer from Queen. This is a street which now has been reduced to one lane because of parking and bike lanes. Look out! An ambulance wants to make its way to the St. Joseph’s Hospital emergency entrance, but increased traffic on Herkimer has no place to go to let the ambulance through.

A comment made by Coun. Maureen Wilson that she is “not interested in the supremacy of vehicular movement as the No. 1 determinant in our evaluation matrix” is a slap in the face to parents transporting children in their vehicles, seniors who drive to the supermarket and those who can’t cycle for any number of reasons.

When traffic finds other ways of getting around the Main Street conversion by going through neighbourhoods filled with children and established bike lanes, councillors will have to answer to this terrible decision.

Sue Prestedge, Hamilton