Traffic jams, stop signs, orange pylons, massive excavators and paving machines have been a constant theme in the Lower Mainland this summer, and Abbotsford is no exception.

Roadwork on both busy city streets and provincial highways that run through Abbotsford and Mission has caused plenty of back-ups over the last couple of months, which begs the question: How does this affect the environment?

According to a 2008 article in the Ottawa Citizen that cited air program director of Canadian-based Pollution Probe, Quentin Chiotti, the average car engine burns about 3.5 litres for every hour it idles.

Recent construction to the Trans Canada Highway in both directions at both the Clearbrook and McCallum interchanges has led to sluggishly long lines of idling cars.

But Abbotsford city counsellor and chairwoman of the Fraser Valley Regional District air quality and environment committee Patricia Ross says people just need to be patient.

"It's just a temporary situation," Ross told the Times last Friday.

"In the long run it's actually going to be better because what we're trying to do is avoid that congestion in the future."

Ross said that to avoid the traffic jams and the subsequent idling of their car, people should plan alternative routes.

For information on alternate routes, visit www.abbotsford.ca.

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