Not in favour of bridge. I believe MOT's report said most of the traffic headed over the Malahat is headed to the WestShore or downtown. A Pat Bay bridge would not help those destined to the west shore (Costco, etc) from Cowichan. It would help those from Cowichan headed to the airport and ferries but that is a drop in the bucket to where most traffic is headed.
Then theirs politics. The residents in the path of the connector road on the Saanich pennisula will have a fit and fight this tooth and nail. You don't see anyone fighting Malahat widening - that's because there is few people living there and those that do (myself included) want to see the highway improved.
A bridge would help those coming into downtown from Mill Bay-North get there more efficiently.
The Malahat would stay open. Those heading to the Westshore would see an improvement as traffic levels on the Malahat would be reduced. Those heading from the Westshore into the core would see an improvement as those coming into town from up island would be taking an alternate route.
From my experience, most vehicles continue on into Victoria rather than exit at Millstream and I suspect most vehicles are headed into the core and not the Westshore. I would like to see more information though. If you could provide this MoT study you speak of, I'd greatly appreciate it.
Surely some landowners would be affected, and would have to be compensated fairly based upon industry practices as land would need to be acquired. Honestly, the volume of those affected would be quite miniscule. I believe the BC government has the right to expropriate, and should not be afraid to use it when it serves the public interest.