Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1469338
NEWS 5 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 1 JUNE 2022 Farrugia thinks more studies needed on Gozo tunnel: 'It is like the Metro' Farrugia did not commit to having a Gozo tunnel ready in the next five years, saying instead that the Labour Party's manifesto will guide the government NICOLE MEILAK INFRASTRUCTURE Minister Aaron Farrugia did not commit to completing the Malta-Gozo tunnel link in the next five years of the Labour Party's admin- istration, insisting that certain technical and financial feasibility aspects still need to be evaluated. During a press conference on Tuesday, Farrugia said that ex- perts are regularly updating him on the project and its possibili- ties. "This is a project like the Met- ro, one needs to carry out more studies and decide accordingly. One needs to evaluate feasibili- ty from a technical and financial aspect," he said. When asked by MaltaToday whether the tunnel link will be completed in the next five years, Farrugia said that the Labour Party's manifesto will be the guiding blueprint for the coming years. The Malta-Gozo tunnel was an electoral pledge from the Labour Party, and had received biparti- san support in parliament when the motion was put forward by ministers Ian Borg and Justyne Caruana. However, the project was orig- inally the brainchild of former PN minister Chris Said. When the motion was tabled in parlia- ment, Caruana pointed out that there was going to be an element of continuity, with the Labour administration finishing what the Nationalist administration started. Mriehel flyover 'needs to happen' On the Mrieħel flyover project, Farrugia said that the investment is necessary. "The choices are between one model and anoth- er. Right now we're evaluating all the possibilities with experts and the infrastructure agency," he said. "Our aim is to limit environ- mental damage so that Maltese people can benefit from such projects without the environ- mental damage that could be caused." he continued. Infrastructure Malta had put forward plans to create a fly- over structure on the Mrieħel bypass to provide safer access to and from the industrial es- tate. However, the proposal was unanimously opposed by the Qormi local council, who urged the agency to drop the plans en- tirely. A group of over 150 residents and farmers in the Qormi- Mrieħel area had requested the personal intervention of Prime Minister Robert Abela, since swathes of land and fields would be taken in order to build a fly- over. Alternatively, the Qormi local council had proposed a tunnel below the existing road, with IM saying it was analysing this pro- posal. Paceville tunnels In 2019 Infrastructure Malta announced plans for an exten- sive road and tunnel investment for the Paceville and Pembroke town. The project was an- nounced publicly on the agen- cy's social media page, but the actual plans were kept under wraps for a few months. Farrugia said that assessments are being carried out on the sev- eral projects in the pipeline for the Paceville area. "We're focus- ing on making sure they're com- pliant," he said. The project proposes the up- grading of the Pembroke-St Ju- lian's connection through the widening of Triq Sant' Andrija and Triq Anzio, a 500m tunnel connecting Regional Road and Triq Santu Wistin and Triq Wal- ter Ganado, a tunnel connection between Triq il-Knisja and Triq San Gorg in Paceville, a 1.5 km tunnel connection between Triq Xatt ta' San Gorg and the Coast Road, and new roundabouts at Spinola, Triq Elia Zammit, Triq Sant' Andrija and Triq is-Sajjie- da. The plans also envisage a tun- nel and a pedestrian link cross- ing the Harq Hammiem valley. In Paceville the proposed tun- nels will converge under the pro- tected Spinola gardens. Mriehel underpass to be completed by September NICOLE MEILAK INFRASTRUCTURE Malta (IM) is aiming to finish works on the Mrieħel Underpass Project by the end of September, while the roundabout above it will be open to commuters by end of year. On Tuesday morning, In- frastructure Minister Aaron Farrugia visited the site of the works with IM CEO Trustin Farrugia Cann to provide an update on the project. Farrugia said the investment will complement the Central Link Project by minimising bottlenecks and improving road safety, noting that the in- vestment will create safer pe- destrian and cycling crossings. In February, IM completed the excavation of the cut-and- cover underpass and started erecting 290 precase concrete panels to form its walls. On Tuesday, workers lifted in place te first of 16 prestressed concrete beams that will sup- port the roof of the tunnel. Each beam weighs six tonnes. The underpass will feature two lanes and form part of a new roundabout intersection. This will replace the old traf- fic lights system at the cross- road between Balzan, Birkir- kara and Mrieħel. The main eastbound traffic flows from Balzan towards the Bypass wll be grade-separated from the other flows converging at the junction. Pedestrian and cycling crossings will link Birkirkara, Mrieħel and Balzan with Il-Ħo- for Road, a rural road leading to Żebbuġ and Qormi. IM is working to complete the works on the underpass at the end of September. Once the tunnel is ready, IM will contin- ue the project with new round- about above it, as well as new pedestrian and cycling cross- ings and landscaped areas. The Mrieħel Underpass Pro- ject was launched last year to build a new 60-metre tunnel connecting L-Imdina Road with the Mrieħel Bypass at the junction next to the offices of the Malta Financial Services Authority.