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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, December 5, 2013 | 6 Spotlight continued from p.1 "It plays out on a couple of different levels," he said. "For businesses, there's the issue of the movement of goods and services, of course, but also for employers, it has become an issue just getting their staff to and from work." In a survey conducted in 2013, the Oakville Chamber of Commerce found transportation -- agged by 17 per cent of responding members -- is the single biggest factor impacting choice of whether to do business in Oakville. The survey also found respondents believe gridlock to be among the top three most pressing challenges facing Oakville businesses over the next ve to 10 years, along with increasing competition and costs. Milton Chamber of Commerce members also face challenges due to trafc congestion. Its executive director, Sandy Martin, said, "It's `just-in-time' delivery for the manufacturers that are in the automotive sector. When they have John Sawyer to get something to the Chrysler plant in Brampton or Ford in Oakville, they have to leave earlier, they have to get out the door faster because they've got timelines." It seems to Arend Kersten, executive director of the Flamborough Chamber of Commerce, that no matter what time of day it is, the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) is bumper-to-bumper. "From four o'clock in the morning to 10 o'clock at night, the Queen Elizabeth is gridlocked and it's a major arterial road," he said. "If the trucks don't move, it costs money." Martin estimated 30 per cent of Milton's chamber members regularly use Hwy. 401 to get their goods to market. "If they are going eastbound on 401 to the airport, they are challenged. If they are going down to the QEW , they are challenged until they get through Burlington," she said. Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn, who is also parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Transportation, agrees traf c congestion is a big issue. On most days, Flynn carpools to Queen's Park. It takes him about 90 minutes in the mornings "Connected to your Community" Moving goods comes with a price tag thanks to traf c issues On a good day, during daytime hours, the QEW through Royal Windsor Drive is not too bad. Some trucks take advantage, but other businesses -- and commuters -- cannot. | photo by Eric Riehl ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog) Catherine O'Hara Eric Riehl David Lea Everyone has experienced it. Many endure it every day. It's the ordeal of being stuck on a traffic-choked highway or road staring at an endless line of brake lights. Shifting Gears, a three-part Metroland West special series, reveals traffic congestion not only has serious personal implications, it also impacts the environment and economy. A relief valve is needed. and practically at every corner, we are under construction." However, Martin said the widening of Derry Road and James Snow Parkway is helping to ease this local congestion and she argued the infrastructure construction is being done correctly, with road closures taking place on weekends. In some instances, instead of sitting idle, motorists seize the opportunity to zigzag their way through residential streets to circumvent a bottleneck a few kilometres ahead. It has resulted in a direct increase in cut-through traf c on many municipal roads. see Building on p.8 with the use of the QEW's high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes. "I think a very strong case can be made right now that the congestion is over and above what it should be," he said. The QEW faces some very serious issues with gridlock, said Halton MPP Ted Chudleigh, who voiced concerns about how much more it could really be expanded. And while Hwy. 401 is undergoing an expansion, relief for many of his constituents is a long way off. The highway's expansion is expected to reach Mississauga Road in 2018. However, the next phase, to Hwy. 25, won't be complete until 2021. "... Beyond that, they (the Ministry of Trans- portation staff) haven't even started to plan," said the Progressive Conservative MPP . Motorists travelling along area highways aren't the only victims of gridlock. In Waterdown, traf c along Dundas Street East and Parkside Drive, is horrendous, said Hamilton's Ward 15 Councillor Judi Partridge. A housing boom and lack of infrastructure have resulted in severe roadblocks. Milton, the fastest growing community in Ontario, also faces challenges. According to Martin, current municipal infrastructure projects are creating problems on local roads. "Milton is the fastest-growing community Volume 51 | Number 145 447 Speers Road, Oakville ON (905) 845-3824 Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone (416) 340-1981. 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