Drivers furious by long delays as Western University closes access to campus 'indefinitely'
The university says road closures are to keep people safe during an employee strike
Commuters travelling near Western University faced long delays Monday after the school closed access to campus for an indefinite period of time.
University Drive, at the Richmond Street gates, was blocked. Access on the Western Road side of campus, where drivers saw the longest delays, was closed. The campus is a primary transportation route from east to west in London, with the river limiting detour options.
The London Transit Commission (LTC) did not run buses onto campus either, with detours on nine routes listed on the commission's website.
The university said Sunday night in a statement that the closure is due to pickets set up by striking members of CUPE local 2361 and a need to keep people on campus safe. The employees responsible for the operation of campus facilities — from plumbing, cleaning and outdoor maintenance — walked off the job more than a week ago.
"To help ensure the safety of picketers and all community members, we will need to maintain campus road closures until the end of this labour disruption," said spokesperson Stephen Ledgley. "Motorists who do not have a specific reason to be on or around the main campus are encouraged to avoid the area."
CBC News spoke to numerous drivers stuck in traffic on Western Road on Monday morning, with many furious by the delay.
"I've been here for twenty minutes and I'm going to be at least 45 minutes late for work," said one driver.
The university had closed access points to campus during last week's orientation period, something it does when students first return, but the roads always open once classes start. CBC News has asked the university if it's ever closed access to campus during a labour dispute in the past, but has not yet had a response.
City councillor questions university's closures
Ward 6 Coun. Sam Trosow said the decision to close access and roads on campus is an example of the university's ability to make unilateral decisions that directly impact Londoners.
"I'm not happy with how this is happening," said Trosow. "It's difficult because, on the one hand, the university would probably correctly say that this is their private property and they can do that, but at the same time, when you look at the intersection of the campus gates and Richmond [Street], this has an incredible bearing beyond the gates of the university."
Trosow, who has visited the picket lines, said union members on strike are not blocking traffic and have been respecting the flow of traffic.
"The fact that the university is making it very difficult for people to go about their day-to-day business, I really question whether it's necessary," he said. "I'd like to hear more about their justification."
The following roads will be closed:
- University Drive (from the Richmond Gates up to Perth Drive).
- Lambton Drive (with a portion open allowing access to the Alumni Hall traffic circle).
- Huron Drive (with Philip Aziz Avenue open to allow access to the South Valley parking lot).
- Oxford Drive.
Western said that for students and faculty, or anyone else needing to reach campus, there will be drop-off points at the Medway and South Valley parking lots, Middlesex Drive in front of the Natural Sciences Building, and at Brescia Drive.
