Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects Ian Borg and Parliamentary Secretary for EU Funds Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi visited the Marsa Junction Project site which has exceeded 70% completion. Works are currently underway on three flyovers expected to be opened to road users next month.
Minister Ian Borg said, “This is the largest infrastructural project our country has ever seen, and we are doing our utmost to finish it on time, at the highest quality and with all necessary facilities. We modified plans to include a safer pedestrian and cycling connection between Marsa and Paola and this is only one among facilities planned for alternative means here. In the meantime, the coming months will see new diversions and guidance for traffic towards the completion of the rest of the project. We remain committed to have more efficient and safer roads which are better suited to contemporary times and to the culture shift we would like to witness in the transport sector.”
Parliamentary Secretary Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi stated that the Marsa Junction has been allocated €52 million in European funds. He explained that as result of this project we will be reducing pollution, whilst increasing the efficiency through better traffic management of our roads. He said that he looks forward to the new Multi Financial Framework which is being negotiated, so that with European Funds we can continue to face upcoming challenges whilst strengthening Malta through more investment.
Current works include work on the last four ramps which will connect these flyovers with the roads joining this junction, while five other ramps are already complete. Agency Infrastructure Malta is building new roads beneath these flyovers towards efficient and safe connections. Work is also underway on the building of footpaths, pedestrian bridges, bus lanes and bus lay-bys, park and ride facilities and cycling tracks. Two underground reservoirs were also built in the last months to collect 1.5 million litres of rainwater for the irrigation of project landscaping. The coming months and weeks will include the surfacing of more than 12 kilometres of new lanes.
At the end of the week a new northbound connection between Sir Paul Boffa Avenue and Aldo Moro Road will be opened while traffic will be diverted from the northbound carriageway in Giuseppe Garibaldi Road to another road in the Marsa Industrial Estate.