Bee Editorial
Transit Road reconstruction will require patience
We all know road construction causes time delays, frustration and an occasional beating of the steering wheel.

And when it comes to a heavily traveled thoroughfare such as Transit Road we can only imagine the kind of blood, sweat and tears that motorists are going to suffer over the next three years for the $28 million project.

Transit Road travelers should get used to leaving a little bit earlier than normal to reach their intended destination.

Luckily, officials from the New York State Department of Transportation have said that construction this season won't have much effect on motorists; and since the beginning roadwork has just begun, we'd like to remind travelers that patience and a little pre-emptive planning could decrease possible street stress. First of all, you know construction is coming. You know it's not a two-week job. You know you can expect to spend a little more time getting to work than on an average day.

So, if you know all this, why not plan ahead and map out alternative routes to work or home. When heavy construction, lane closures and bumper to bumper traffic are in full swing, it's good to remember some tips. If you must use Transit Road to get from point A to point B, then do it with a little extra time on your side.

As everyone knows, Transit Road is currently no picnic; the traffic is, in a word, horrendous. Lane restrictions during construction are going to make a bad situation worse. But when the work is done the ever expanding pot holes will be gone and the crumbling outer lanes will be restored. Traffic on Transit Road will remain busy because that section of Amherst and Clarence is busy in general; there is no way around it. We just hope that the Department of Transportation will leave the area with a safer, more efficient route. It's hard to envision the end of a project that is barely under way, but it will eventually be completed. When Cheektowaga was faced with the reconstruction of Walden Avenue and Union Road, motorists grumbled, traffic reports were filled with bad news and businesses suffered. In the end, the project was completed ahead of schedule, and for the most part all ended well. Road construction is nothing new to Western New York as harsh winters take a toll on our roadways, but this project will be especially inconvenient, so prepare yourself now. Transit Road is one of the area's main routes, and this will affect thousands of travelers. Be patient and understanding that this is a part of life and prepare for inconveniences. As always, we remind all motorists to be conscious of crews working on the roadways during construction.