E4million infrastructural project to rebuild the major road that connects Victoria to San Lawrenz in Gozo.

Funds under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), specifically under the Gozo priority, will result in the total reconstruction of this five-kilometre long road.

The road connects the western part of the island with the central area and is the main route to and from the villages of Ghasri, Gharb and San Lawrenz as well as the Ta’ Dbiegi Crafts Village, Ta’ Pinu and Dwejra.

The Gozo Ministry submitted this project for consideration to the Project Selection Committee and Cabinet, together with other projects to be co-financed by the EU, after discussion with the main stakeholders on the island.

Commenting on the project, Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono explained that it is an important one for Gozo, especially considering the geographical dimensions of the island. She said that German experts had visited Gozo and prepared a report on the state of the roads, paying special attention to those that need total reconstruction.

Mrs Debono said a call for tenders will soon be issued and will close towards the end of December. After the evaluation period and the awarding of the tender, the reconstruction work should take about a year.

It will be the responsibility of the contractor/s appointed to organise a traffic management plan so that accessibility to the different areas affected by the project will be safeguarded and inconvenience to residents, shop-owners, craft workers and everyone involved in the tourism industry will be minimised.

The project will involve intensive work. The road will not be simply given a new layer of tarmac but will be dug out, completely removed and rebuilt. The project involves an investment of E4 million, E1 million of which will be provided by the government through the Gozo Ministry.

Mrs Debono said that with the cooperation of everyone concerned, the Ministry will carry out this considerably important project for Gozo with dedication, to continue improving the quality of life of Gozitans.

She said the Gozo Ministry had submitted applications for various projects to be co-financed by the European Union under the Gozo axis. These included another project for reconstruction of roads in Gozo, to be carried out under the allocation of E2.8 million Cohesion Funds.