If you’ve been wondering why your commute near Western University has turned into an absolute nightmare lately, you’re not alone. Traffic on Windermere Road came to a virtual crawl recently, with cars backed up all the way to Corley Drive as CUPE strikers created massive delays for anyone trying to get through the area.

The situation became so intense that frustrated drivers were reportedly calling London Police Service’s non-emergency line, hoping for some traffic direction assistance. Unfortunately for those stuck in the endless line of vehicles, the operator’s response was pretty blunt: “No, we won’t be doing that.”

Local residents and commuters found themselves in quite the predicament as CUPE strikers were only allowing approximately two cars through every five minutes. This created a domino effect that had traffic backing up the entire hill toward Corley Drive, making what should have been a quick trip an hour-long ordeal.

The chaos wasn’t just about waiting times either. Some drivers were getting so desperate to escape the gridlock that they started attempting risky maneuvers, cutting up the opposite side of the road only to come face-to-face with oncoming traffic from people turning around to head back up the hill.

One particularly concerning aspect of the situation was its proximity to University Hospital. The massive backup created potential delays for emergency vehicles trying to access the hospital, with at least one ambulance spotted rerouting due to the traffic congestion.

But the CUPE strike wasn’t the only culprit behind Windermere’s traffic woes that day. London Hydro was simultaneously conducting scheduled work to replace power poles along the street, complete with pylons and staff diverting traffic. This double whammy of construction and labour action created the perfect storm for transportation chaos.

Local residents who live on Windermere have been dealing with increased traffic for months now. The street has become an unofficial bypass route for people trying to avoid construction on Fanshawe Road, despite not being designed to handle such heavy traffic volumes. The daily backup at the Adelaide Street light during rush hour has become a regular frustration for locals.

The strike action has been particularly disruptive for people working 12-hour shifts who depend on reliable transportation. Healthcare workers trying to get to the hospital have found themselves running late for shifts, adding stress to an already demanding job.

During the height of the delays, cars were reportedly waiting up to an hour just to access their own driveways. The situation became so severe that some residents were essentially trapped in their neighborhoods, unable to leave for work or essential errands.

The CUPE workers are fighting for wage increases that would bring their compensation in line with similar positions at other local institutions like Fanshawe College and local school boards. Currently, many of these workers are earning significantly less than their counterparts doing identical jobs elsewhere in the region.

Adding fuel to the fire, Western University reportedly cut off the strikers’ benefits, which affected workers’ ability to access medications for their families. This move particularly angered union members who felt their children were being targeted in the dispute.

The Windermere Road situation is expected to get worse before it gets better. The city has plans to widen the road from Western to Doon Drive, which will require extensive construction work. While this will eventually improve traffic flow, the construction phase will likely create even more significant disruptions for residents and commuters.

For now, anyone needing to travel through the Windermere area during peak hours might want to consider alternative routes or transportation methods. The combination of ongoing labour disputes and planned infrastructure work means this busy corridor will continue to be a traffic hotspot for the foreseeable future.

The discussion around the strike and traffic situation has been particularly active in local online communities, with residents sharing their experiences and frustrations about the daily commute challenges