As a resident of View Royal, helplessly impacted by the almost year-long beautification project on the old Island Highway, I am groaning at the thought of the Craigflower Bridge replacement.

Although I fully agree that it needs replacing, my big concern is the intersection itself. At peak hours there are five lanes trying to bleed into one as traffic heads west - two from Craigflower, two in the turning lane from Esquimalt and one from the bridge.

With the new bridge having three lanes, will there be one more lane of cars trying to squeeze onto the highway?

I was stunned when I realized that the highway project didn't call for an extra lane. Traffic flow there has scarcely improved at all, although we have more flowers to look at as we dribble past at 5 km/h. I am therefore anxiously awaiting word that the entire intersection and its traffic lights will be revamped as well.

By the way, the Island Highway project ran for 0.6 kilometres, cost $8 million and took one year to complete, with untold hours of long lines of idling engines pumping emissions.

With the new bridge having an extra lane, I want a clear explanation from the planners as to how they intend to redesign the lights at the intersection - show me how they are going to fit six lanes into one, and tell me again why a third lane wasn't built on the Island Highway.

Solveig Nordwall

Victoria