The fabled Malta-Gozo tunnel has been confirmed as the government presented a final geological model as well as announced the release of an international tender for construction proposals in six months.

“We now established the route of the 13.5km tunnel, from L-Imbordin in Malta to Nadur in Gozo. This project will see seven new structures being built… eventually allowing us to do away with all the traffic lights,” Transport Minister Ian Borg said.

L-Imbordin is a quiet area on the outskirts of St. Paul’s Bay, and Nadur is a coastal town on the east side of Gozo.

The announcement was made in a Special Cabinet meeting in Lija yesterday, where Dr Borg said 83% of Gozitans were in support of the tunnel, with the government having a “clear mandate” to initiate the project.

The 13.5km tunnel will run underground between the Maltese Islands

It will have one lane heading in each direction, with one extra safety lane, and is planned to have a seven metre radius. Up to 6,5000 vehicles per day are expected to use the tunnel, which should feature a toll similar to the price of using the Gozo ferry.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat was excited to announce the project

Saying major projects such as the Malta-Gozo tunnel were essential for the islands, he said that this was further proof of the government’s hard work.

“We are changing Malta for the better, and in the future people will ask how we were able to live without the infrastructure we created, including the Gozo tunnel. All this demonstrates that work is being undertaken following a certain strategy,” Muscat said.

“In the coming decades I am certain that people will wonder how we got by without projects like this,” he said.

A Lovin Malta poll from earlier this year had found the majority of respondents did not want a Gozo tunnel to be built at all

And here are the four routes that were in consideration prior to the Nadur – L-Imbordin route being chosen

Are you excited for a tunnel linking Malta and Gozo? Let us know in the comments below

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Johnathan Cilia

Johnathan is an award-winning Maltese journalist interested in social justice, politics, minority issues, music and food. Follow him at @supreofficialmt on Instagram, and send him news, food and music stories at [email protected]