Traffic irks Riverdale commuters

Drivers in the Whitehorse neighbourhood of Riverdale are growing frustrated by a traffic bottleneck on the one road into and out of the subdivision.

More than a year ago the city put a roundabout on the main artery leading through the neighbourhood. Now, in the mornings, traffic from the five schools in the area and commuters trying to get downtown creates lengthy backups at the rotary, frustrating motorists.

"I choose not to live in a big city," said Carrie Burbidge. "Whitehorse really is a small town and I think most of us would agree with that. I choose to live here for a certain lifestyle and traffic is not a part of that lifestyle."

At the nearby gas station Crystal Murphy hears complaints regularly.  

"Some people say it takes half an hour, sometimes 45 minutes, to get out of Riverdale here just to get into downtown," she said.

For most, the commute is more like 20 minutes to go a distance of a kilometre or two.

New traffic lights were installed close to the bridge that connects Riverdale to the rest of Whitehorse. Some local residents hoped the lights would help alleviate the bottleneck down by the roundabout, but it turns out that's not the case.  

"We've actually heard the traffic lights, they may not be synced up properly and are exacerbating wait times," said Kirn Dhillon.

The City of Whitehorse is aware of the heavy traffic, but says a new bridge connecting Riverdale is not an option.   

"I know there's a few people squawking and I'm one of them," said Mayor Dan Curtis, who lives in Riverdale. "I'd just like to recommend that we walk, take the bus or leave just a few minutes early and I think that would make a big, big difference."

The mayor says he'd also like to see more people carpool.