St Barbara bastions in Valletta are being restored in a two-phase project which should be completed some time in February.

Resources and Infrastructure Minister Ninu Zammit said when visiting the works yesterday that the first phase involves some 2,000m2 of stone along 100 metres of bastion. This will be completed some time in June, at a cost of around Lm100,000.

The second phase will be taken in hand immediately the first is concluded, and should take about eight months to be completed.

The bastions were in sections in a dangerous state and stone was being replaced where necessary. When finished, the work will inhibit the growth of vegetation on the bastion surfaces.

Mr Zammit said a lot of restoration work had been made over the past three-and-a-half years. This included works on Fort St Angelo, St Anne’s Gate in Senglea, St Elena’s Gate in Cospicua, and bastions in Vittoriosa and Valletta. In all, over Lm500,000 have been spent.

Tenders are soon to be offered for restoration works in various areas including Cottonera, Valletta, Mdina and the Citadel in Gozo. In all, over Lm12 million will be spent over seven years.