Works to begin before end of the year
Plans for Santa Luċija tunnels project approved
The Planning Authority (PA) has approved Infrastructure Malta’s plans to build two tunnels beneath the Santa Luċija roundabout.
According to the Ministry for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects, the project is expected to result in a 30 per cent reduction in travel time and a lower risk of accidents for thousands of road users.
Residents of Santa Luċija, Tarxien and Paola will also enjoy improved access, the ministry says, adding that “a drastic decrease in traffic congestion in the area also means better air quality in nearby localities.”
“The ministry also notes with satisfaction that the Planning Authority has asked Infrastructure Malta to implement several precautionary measures to ensure that while the project is being implemented, the environment of the area is fully protected. Among others, measures safeguarding the area’s residents and protecting natural heritage have been requested.”
Following the approval of the necessary development permits for this project, Infrastructure Malta is expected to begin the necessary works in Triq tal-Barrani and Vjal Santa Luċija before the end of this year. The call for tenders for contractors was issued earlier this year. The evaluation process of the six offers submitted with a median value of €19.8 million is expected to conclude soon.
The investment in this main junction in the Maltese road network includes a redesign of the roundabout to improve safety, and the construction of two 100-metre tunnels linking Vjal Santa Luċija directly with Triq tal-Barrani.
The roundabout will continue to serve as one of the main access points to Santa Luċija, Tarxien, and Paola. Following the completion of the new tunnels, difficulty entering or exiting the localities is expected to decrease.
The project also includes the development, replacement and strengthening of several distribution services for water, electricity and telecommunications which are currently underground.
Minister Ian Borg stressed the importance of continuous evaluation of each project and said that “this new way in which we are planning projects, with evaluation that does not stop at the planning stage but, rather, continued evaluation of how we can better benefit from investment, is leading to the possibility of widening the benefits of projects of all sizes, as is happening in this case of Santa Luċija. In this way, not only are we positively affecting the thousands of drivers who use these main junctions every day, but also the residents of nearby localities, who can travel from their homes in a safer and more efficient way. At the end of the day, our main goal is to improve the standard of living of all Maltese and Gozitan people and I feel that projects like these are helping us to reach this aim.”