A Transportation Ministry study of alternative routes for the Malahat highway is due for release by the end of the month.
The study, announced in January, is set to examine emergency detour routes that can be used when traffic incidents close the Malahat for long periods, said Janelle Staite, regional deputy director for the ministry. Bridges and ferries are to be considered as options.
Permanent alternate routes are not part of the study鈥檚 scope, Staite said 鈥� just routes that can be activated when the need arises.
Langford Mayor Stew Young聽said there are a lot of ideas for the Malahat, ranging from reactivating the E&N rail service to widening the highway the whole way.
鈥淚 just don鈥檛 know how much money they鈥檙e going to earmark for the project,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f they were going to put six, seven, $800聽million over the next 10聽years into it, then you鈥檙e going to see probably a pretty good plan.鈥�
Chris Foord, vice-chairman of the Capital Regional District Traffic Safety Commission, said he hopes the report goes beyond alternate routes and addresses broader transportation problems.
鈥淚鈥檓 hoping it鈥檚 going to do more than just say: 鈥楬ey, we could do an emergency bypass on the Niagara Main and whatever,鈥� 鈥� he said.
鈥淚鈥檓 hoping that they will look toward at least planning for the best corridor or best two corridors to get us not only from Langford, but I think we need to do a planning study that gets us right up to the south end of the Nanaimo Parkway.
鈥淲e need better.鈥�
In March, Capital Regional District directors voted against putting any new highway infrastructure in Sooke Hills Wilderness Park or water-district lands, but agreed that there could still be access for emergency vehicles on existing roads.
One alternative that some people use in the event of a blockage on the Malahat is the Pacific Marine Circle Route between Lake Cowichan and Port Renfrew, but it is narrow and subject to flooding during heavy rain.
