St Paul’s Bay To Nadur: Malta And Gozo To Be Forever Linked As Underground Tunnel Confirmed
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.
Confirmed! International call for tender to be issued in the next 6 months | Malta-Gozo tunnel feasible | this is big news for #Gozitans! – CC @followianborg @Maltagov @JosephMuscat_JM
— Clint Camilleri (@Clint_Camilleri) December 11, 2018
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.
Cabinet discussed the strategic plan being implemented to upgrade #Malta infrastructure to unprecedented levels: from new roads to the Malta – #Gozo tunnel -JM @followianborg pic.twitter.com/3at2zJs1lD
— Joseph Muscat (@JosephMuscat_JM) December 11, 2018
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.