Ontarians facing longer commute times

A new report motorists in Ontario are more pressed for time thanks to longer commute times.

It might not be a surprise with all the recent closures in and around the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.

The University of Waterloo released a study that shows commute times have increased 12 percent between 1994 and 2010. Motorists spend six point four minutes more on average travelling to and from work.

Toronto residents have the longest commutes in the province — more than 65 minutes on average.

Researchers say the sheer number of cars on the road is a major factor, but recent closures in the region won’t help motorists get out of gridlock anytime soon.

Yesterday marked the the first day of the two-and-a-half year construction project on the Gardiner Expressway. There were 13 minor crashes on the stretch of highway that’s under construction, including nine that happened in a two hour period during the morning rush hour.

There is also some bad news for drivers in St. Catharines, where the 100-year-old Burgoyne Bridge will remain closed until at least May 16. Construction is underway on a replacement bridge and there are fears the work could make the existing bridge unsafe. The bridge however is still open to pedestrians.

In 2010, more than 20 percent of Ontarians between the age of 20 and 64 said they experienced high levels of time pressure.