Tim Hortons drive-thru clogs Fredericton traffic

Lineups at a Fredericton, N.B., Tim Hortons drive-thru are causing big headaches and lengthy delays for commuters.

Long lineups from cars waiting to turn into the Tim Hortons drive-thru on Regent Street are leading to big traffic snarls on the busy street, especially during rush hour.

City Coun. David Kelly said he recently had 11 calls about the problem in one single day.

"We've had instances where this traffic, in peak times, has been backed up a block."

Kelly said it's been a problem for yearsand it's only getting worse.

"In this particular location here, I've seen vehicles that are actually stopped on the sidewalk waiting to go into the drive-thru, blocking vehicular traffic, but more importantly, pedestrian traffic," he said.

"I've particularly seen instances [where] people with a baby carriage and people with mobility impairments actually had to go out on the street because they couldn't get through the sidewalk because vehicles were blocking it."

Kelly said he has corresponded by email with the owner of the restaurant, who also owns the Tim Hortons on Prospect Street.

He said the city is working on a plan to fix line-ups at the Prospect Street Tim Hortons including a new turn lane and Kelly said the city will then turn to finding a solution for the Regent Street restaurant.