A bridge over the inlet solves the Malahat problem
Re: Duplicating the Malahat.
A bypass through the watershed will probably be a no-go. Avoiding the watershed bypass further inland would probably be a 20 or 30 kilometre road to be used in event of the latest accident on the Malahat causing the inevitible four hour delay. Accident rate on the Malahat is roughly one a month so this duplicate bypass road would only be used then?
I am a veteran commuter who has driven the Malahat and endured the Colwood Crawl for over 10 years. One day I put a ruler on a map and drew a straight line. This line followed the Island highway south to Mill Bay Road. (Near the Brentwood Ferry slip). A straight line would exit the highway there and go south through Bamberton, cross the inlet at Squally Reach and connect to Willis Point Road on the peninsula. This is a distance of only eight kilometres. (At 80 kilometres per hour, a six minute drive).
Having crossed over the scenic bridge, proceed down Willis Point Road (4.5k), turn south to West Saanich Road (7k) towards Interurban, Wilkinson, Royal Oak, Pat Bay Highway, Quadra Street that all open up to a variety of arterial roads to the many destinations in Victoria, and much sooner.
An environment friendly floating pontoon bridge similar to the William R. Bennett Bridge in Kelowna would be perfect. The Kelowna bridge (1,000 metres) started building in 2005 and was opened in 2008 at a cost of $144 million. The Saanich Inlet bridge would be a third longer (1,500 metres) so perhaps would cost approximately $192 million. Add 11 years inflation. This does not come anywhere near the billion dollar cost of a bridge I have heard mentioned in past studies.
The mountains are eliminated making winter driving easier. The Brentwood Ferry would be no longer necessary.
The saving in drive-time is approximately one half hour into or out of the city. Cowichan Valley residents will be a half hour closer to the Victoria Airport and BC Ferry Terminal.
I cannot think of a more beautiful, convenient and faster entry or exit from our capital city.
Contact Premier Horgan, Transportation Minister Trevena if you agree.
Bob English
Cobble Hill