The Santa Lucija underpass has been inaugurated after an investment of €20 million, a statement by the Office of the Prime Minister read.
The project was partially financed by European Funds.
Prime Minister Robert Abela, along with Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital projects, as well as Parliamentary Secretary for European Funds Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi inaugurated the roundabout underpass project. This is the second time that the project was 'opened'. This newsroom had run a story about this issue and the Infrastructure Ministry had defended the 'inauguration' of major road projects before their actual completion. The Santa Lucija tunnels were opened by the government through a visit by the Prime Minister last year, but the tunnels had been closed to traffic on several occasions.
Now, it seems the official inauguration has taken place. The Prime Minister on Sunday said that travelling time is expected to decrease by 30%, meaning that less traffic congestion.
The Prime Minister noted that the project will leave a positive affect on the citizens who reside in the southern side of Malta.
"The project also includes a jogging track in the vicinity as well as access to cyclists and people who suffer from a disability," he said.
Transport Minister Ian Borg said that the aim was to have a network of roads chained together rather than roads and junctions which are isolated.
"We turned that dream into a plan, and today it becomes a reality," Minister Borg remarked.
Parliamentary Secretary Zrinzo Azzopardi remarked that through the utilization of European funds, Malta is managing to change its infrastructure for the better.
The underpass is 90 metres long. 130 metres of approach lanes were constructed. A further four slip roads were added. The project also includes lighting, water works and systems of traffic management, amongst other things.