It has been reported that, according to an EU poll, 54 per cent of Gozitans are in favour of a bridge to Gozo. It turns out that the poll consisted of 300 people, which means that those in favour only amounted to 162, a minimally representative number, especially since the questionnaire touched on a number of different topics and did not focus on the matter of the bridge in depth.

This issue has been presented far too simplistically, with very little discussion of what is actually involved. Going by comparable projects abroad, this bridge would cost over €1 billion, without factoring-in the year-round maintenance costs. The Sicily-Italy channel is only two-thirds the length of the Gozo channel, so a bridge across this channel would be relatively less expensive than a Malta-Gozo one. However, one of the main reasons for the shelving of plans for this less costly Italian bridge is that it was deemed financially unfeasible for a population of “only” five million!

On 25 June, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat announced that this project would be a public/private partnership. On the off chance that a private company could be found to undertake this massive project for a population of only 31,000 and a fraction of the tourism that Sicily gets, would the tolls necessary to provide a return on such an investment be affordable to Gozitans?

While a bridge would reduce a 30-minute crossing to a 10-minute drive, it would not solve a major part of the problem, which is the time spent stuck in traffic jams from Cirkewwa to central or southern Malta. Without going into the environmental implications, do the 162 respondents realise that this will spell the end of hotels and many restaurants in Gozo, as most people will not spend the night there any more as it will be much easier to simply drive back across the bridge to Malta? A bridge will also put an end to investment in the upgrading of facilities like Gozo hospital, as Gozitans will be expected to come to Malta for all their needs.

Again, Gozitans will not be spared the worst winter crossings, as on such days the bridge will be closed due to high winds, as is the case all over Europe, so a basic ferry service will still have to be maintained at a huge loss.

I have one simple question for Gozitans – what would you prefer: that €1 billion be spent on a bridge to bring Gozitan workers and students over to face traffic jams in Malta, or that the funds be spent on creating jobs to keep young people in Gozo and slow down the brain-drain from our sister island?

The people of Gozo need practical measures, not pie-in-the-sky political promises that may never materialise. One such measure could be to give priority boarding on the ferries to genuine Gozitans. They deserve it due to the double-insularity (where they stand to lose any EU funding if a bridge or tunnel is built). After all, Gozitans are crossing out of necessity, not just for day trips or weekend breaks like the Maltese who carry a Gozitan ID card. 

This is a relatively simple proposal which we have been repeating for ages. Why is it not being implemented?

Astrid Vella

SLIEMA