A €55 million project to upgrade the infrastructure in the centre of Malta between Mriehel Bypass and Saqqajja Hill, was announced this morning by Transport Minister Ian Borg, who said that the project should be concluded by 2020.

The areas affected by the project will include Attard, Balzan and Birkirkara, along with travelling routes to Rabat and Zebbug, amongst others.

Mdina Road will be widened to four lanes. 

Borg explained that the project, titled the 'Central Link Project', will include 7.4km of new lanes and 2km of bicycle lanes, would cut travel time by up to 50 per cent and lead to a reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by 13.5 per cent.

The project, of which the tender was published yesterday, also plans to create 19,300 m2 of new landscaped areas. Borg said that this new project will be beneficial to approximately 30,000 vehicles which use this route daily. 

In parliament yesterday, PN Deputy Leader David Agius appealed to the government not to construct the Attard bypass, stating that it will "ruin agricultural land and bring traffic closer to the residents."  He also expressed concern about car emissions. Agius said that the government "never undertook one study about the environmental impact of this road."

However, responding to questions by the press, Borg said that studies have been carried out and that the chosen design is the one that is most viable when taking financial and environmental factors into considerations.