Workers broke through the final stretch of rock separating Tal-Barrani Road from Santa Luċija Avenue, in what is another milestone in the tunnel project.

The project has now exceeded 60% progress.

The underpass will be 90 metres long while 130-metre approach lanes were built together with 4 slip roads leading to the roundabout which now has a safer design. The project also includes work on electric, water, telecommunication, internet and traffic management system services, as well as new reservoirs and pipes for rainwater to be used for the green areas in the vicinity.

This project also includes various facilities for alternative means of transport, including a new design for a nearby jogging track and the upgrade of the Tal-Barrani pedestrian underpass to make it accessible for cyclists and persons with disability. There will also be a pedestrian and cycle lane of nearly 1km forming part of a safe cycle route joining Luqa, Santa Luċija, Tarxien, Paola, Marsa, and Qormi.

The Santa Luċija tunnels project is part-financed by the European Union's Cohesion Fund.

Speaking during a visit to the site, Infrastructure Minister Ian Borg said: "Our infrastructural dream is to have a road network planned as a chain of routes and not isolated roads and junctions. We turned that dream into a plan and today it is becoming real. The Santa Luċija tunnels project is an investment that continues to build on the interventions we made in the last three years, starting from Pembroke and ending in Birzebbugia. Here we have another example of a holistic project that considers infrastructural investment from the aspects of congestion, safety and facilities for sustainable transport. We will remain committed to investing in the highest quality infrastructure."

Parliamentary Secretary Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi stressed the importance and advantages brought about by the Santa Luċija underpass, which is part of the TEN-T infrastructure project. The parliamentary secretary stated that this infrastructure project is co-financed through European funds, with an investment of around 18 million euro. Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi said that this project continues to strengthen Maltese infrastructure so that travel time is reduced leading to fewer emissions and environmental pollution, ultimately "improving the quality of people's lives".