It didn’t take long for traffic to build along Highway 400 through Barrie Friday afternoon, with cottages, resorts and campgrounds the ultimate destination for many. “We just plan on getting away, enjoying the sun, enjoying company with friends and just having a good time,” said Paul West, a cottage goer. It’s opening day on the Trent Severn Waterway. About 120,000 boats will pass through the system this summer. However, 42 to 45 locks in our region remain closed due to high water levels. “We’re working to get those locks open as soon as possible but we want to make sure everyone is safe so that is why they are closed,” says Karen Feeley with the Trent Severn Waterway. Police are reminding drivers they will be out all long weekend looking for bad drivers. Gas prices remain high but not enough to keep people from travelling. The KOA campground in Barrie is sold out for the weekend. “The busier the May long weekend, the more people we have returning throughout the season. We like to get everyone in early to see what its about so they keep rebooking with us and keep coming back the rest of the summer,” says Lauren Reid with KOA Barrie. Rawley Resort Spa and Marina in Port Severn has about 150 staff on the payroll during the busy summer months. “It’s like opening day. Everybody is psyched, pumped and ready to go,” says Paul Marchildon with Rawley Resort Spa and Marina. “It is huge because we really get the big influx of people when they really start coming in droves.” Officials with the Trent Severn Waterway say they will reopen those locks as soon as it’s safe to do so. As for people on the roads, congestion is likely going to run through the night and even into Saturday morning.
