Smoother traffic flow
The Santa Luċija roundabout underpass was opened on Friday morning, creating an uninterrupted connection between Santa Luċija Avenue and Tal-Barrani Road, along the principal route to southern Malta.
Speaking at the inauguration of the infrastructural project, Prime Minister Robert Abela said that the project is the government’s answer to those who think that it is tired.
He said that the project will make a difference in the lives of those who live in the south, and noted that the government will be looking forward to creating more projects which will “change the face of Malta” and utilise the €2.25 billion package of funds from the European Union.
Abela said that he is leading a government which gives solutions and builds up the aspirations and hopes of the Maltese.
Transport and Infrastructure Minister Ian Borg said that this is another step forward for road infrastructure to the south of Malta in tandem with the soon to be finalised Marsa Junction project, which will be completed in the coming months.
Borg noted how just 18 months ago the project had been an idea and a few scribbles on a paper, and had not started before a year ago. He said that in the space of a year, the project and its 1.25 kilometres in roads had been completed.
The project will reduce voyage time by 30% while also reducing emissions due to less time spent in traffic. “This is why I think that every infrastructural project we do is also an environmental project,” Borg said.
Parliamentary Secretary for EU Funds Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi described the project as a “game changer” for the traffic sector, noting that it had made use of some €18 million in EU funds from the European Cohesion Fund.
Giving a detailed overview of the project, Infrastructure Malta said that the project will include the rebuilding of the roundabout in a safer design, to improve access to residents in Santa Luċija, Paola and Tarxien and the reconstruction of a nearby jogging track as well as a new shared pedestrian and cycling path connecting Santa Luċija to Marsa.
Infrastructure Malta said that works on site started in summer 2019, as the project contractors cut over 80,000 tonnes of rock to form the two cut-and-cover tunnels of the new 90-metre underpass. It erected 398 precast reinforced concrete panels to build the underpass walls. Meanwhile, the contractors also formed the two 130-metre approach ramps linking Santa Luċija Avenue and Tal-Barrani Road to the underpass, as well as four slip roads leading to the roundabout above it.
Earlier this month, the construction of the tunnels’ roof by pouring tonnes of concrete over a layer of 176 predalles slabs supported by 46 six-tonne reinforced concrete beams was completed. Final works inside the tunnels will continue during off peak hours or at night, in the coming months.
As part of this project, workers also built a 1.1 km walk-through underground culvert, extending from Tal-Barrani Road, along Santa Luċija Avenue, to reach another similar underground tunnel network beneath the new flyovers of the Marsa Junction Project. These tunnels will accommodate one of the country’s principal 132kV high voltage electricity network connections.
Infrastructure Malta also replaced a major underground potable water distribution pipeline in the same area. Additionally, it is laying several kilometres of underground cable ducts for Internet, traffic management ICT systems and other telecommunication networks. The project also includes new reservoirs and 2.7 kilometres of stormwater pipes to store rainwater for the area’s new green areas.
The project’s new shared pedestrian and cycling path, almost a kilometre long, forms part of a longer safe cycle network connecting Luqa, Santa Luċija, Tarxien, Paola, Marsa and Qormi. The first stretch of this bidirectional path was developed as part of the reconstruction of Hal Luqa Road, next to Santa Luċija’s Garden of Serenity, in 2019.
Through the Santa Luċija Roundabout Underpass Project, Infrastructure Malta said that it has now extended it down the northbound carriageway of Santa Luċija Avenue, until it reaches Marsa, where other segregated cycling tracks and a cycling and pedestrian underpass are being developed through the Marsa Junction Project.