An 11km long rainwater tunnel has been finally completed with boring machines breaking through at Ta’ Xbiex this morning.

There are actually two tunnels – one starting in Attard and the other in Mosta – which join beneath Birkirkara and end in Ta’ Xbiex.

Transport and Infrastructure Minister Joe Mizzi this morning visited the tunnel, which is part of the national flood abatement project. The project involves the construction of some 16 kilometres of mostly underground tunnels that will collect rainwater and channel it away from flood-prone areas. These include Attard, Balzan. Lija, Iklin, Birkirkara, Msida, Gzira, Zebbug, Qormi, Zabbar and Marsaskala.

The water will be channelled into reservoirs and into the sea. The project – which is split into five components – also includes water reservoirs and bridges.

Mr Mizzi said more rainwater will be collected through these tunnels instead of flooding streets and damaging houses and shops.

The Transport Minister said the EU is bearing 85% of the cost of the €52 million project. Mr Mizzi said the project had started back in 2012 but was delayed after a number of complications arose, including archaeological finds.

The Labour government, he said, had promised to complete the project on time and without going over budget.