CHILLIWACK (NEWS 1130) – This week’s winner in Vancouver’s Worst Commute contest definitely feels the impact of high gas prices on his wallet.

Jurgen Beck says he has to drive between Chilliwack and Metrotown in Burnaby five days a week for work.

That comes out to about 200 kilometres a day — and a thousand a week!

“It usually takes about an hour and a half and sometimes up to four hours in the winter to get to work,” he says of his morning commute.

Jurgen figures he’s spend up to $20,000 on gas over the last three years, while driving a little Honda Fit.

And it’s not just the cost that’s impacted him — Jurgen says he wakes up early in the morning to try and get ahead.

“I get up very early so I can try to beat traffic,” he says, adding he normally gets up at about 4:30 a.m. to get on the road by 5:20 a.m.

“I make my way through the streets of Chilliwack to HWY 1, merging with traffic at Prest Rd.,” he explains. “The long line of headlights behind me and tail lights ahead bear witness to the ever-increasing population in the Upper Fraser Valley of people looking for affordable housing. On a good day this stream of traffic will course through the Sumas Prairie at the posted speed limit with the bulk of slower drivers respecting those wishing to drive faster.”

Traffic starts to slow around 5:45 a.m., as he approaches Sumas Way in Abbotsford, Jurgen says.

“By the time this mass of traffic reaches the hill just past Mount Lehman Rd it has slowed to a crawl, often coming to a complete stop near the Bradner Rd rest stop. This stop and go continues as we pass 264th and 232nd and gets really thick through the construction zone between Glover Rd and 200th.”

On an average day, Jurgen will get to work at around 6:50 a.m. His trip home normally takes two hours.

Jurgen says the $500 he gets for his pain, thanks to our partners at Toyo Tires, will help him with his gas bill.

NEWS 1130 would like to thank everyone who submitted an entry.

Cash prizes are awarded every Friday thru November 15. And not to worry, if you don’t win the cash, you still qualify for our grand prize of an all-inclusive Sunwing Vacation for two to Punta Cana, complete with return airfare and seven-nights accommodation at the Riu Naiboa Hotel and Resort.

If you think you should be our next winner, click here for details on how to enter.