The essential question is: “who benefits most from the Craigflower bridge?”
The answer is obviously Esquimalt and the tribal reserves near the bridge. Those areas host the heavy truck operations of the cement and gravel site, and CFB Esquimalt, which damage road and bridges.
It is fair for them to pay for bridge replacement. For Saanich taxpayers the bridge is merely a convenience they are paying dearly for. Saanich is in the awkward position of being between most residents of the Victoria area and where they want to go – the West Shore, up-island, government in Victoria, the military base in Esquimalt, and north to the airport and major ferry terminal.
Tolls should be considered on Admirals Road in Saanich and on the Craigflower bridge so the greatest volume of users pay for most of the cost of rebuilding and maintaining.
No, federal gasoline taxes do not pay the proper proportion for the benefit received by Esquimalt and tribal fiefdoms. No, I don’t have confidence that the currently projected cost will be the final amount.
Keith Sketchley
Saanich
