The first phase of the Cottonera Waterfront Landscaping Project is nearing completion and a number of commercial outlets along the waterfront will soon be opened.

Work on the first phase of this project began three months ago.

A spokesman for the Roads and Urban Development Ministry said that all major infrastructural work has now been completed, with only a small proportion of the 6,000 square metres of granite paving still left to be laid. The asphalting of the narrow road along the front was completed last week.

The spokesman said the completion of the infrastructural works at the site will give the green light to the opening on the first commercial outlets along the waterfront. The first of these are expected to open at the newly-restored Old Treasury building in around two weeks.

The other commercial outlets are expected to open in the coming months around the Menqa area beneath the St Angelo bastions.

The landscaping project is considered to be a crucial element in the regeneration of the waterfront since it will help to turn this area into the centre of activity in the Three Cities.

The ferry service connecting the Vittoriosa Waterfront to the Valletta Waterfront will also start operating from here. The tenders for the provision of this service were recently issued by the Malta Maritime Authority.

The total investment will be in the region of Lm400,000 with contributions from the government, the Malta Transport Authority and the consortia involved in the Cottonera Waterfront Project.

The spokesman said access to this road will be controlled since the entire area of the Cottonera Waterfront will be pedestrianised.