Infrastructure Malta (IM) has begun works on a new flyover deck of the Kirkop Tunnels and Airport Intersection Project (KTAIP), which will offer a direct route from Luqa to the Kirkop tunnels.

They began works on Tuesday night with the lifting into place of the first of seven steel structures. The flyover will be 400 metres long weighing 300 tonnes.

This news was announced by the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects, Aaron Farrugia, Parliamentary Secretary for European Funds Chris Bonnet and the CEO of Infrastructure Malta, Ivan Falzon in a press conference on Wednesday morning.

This €18 million project also entails rebuilding the Gudja roundabout in order to introduce a new tunnel to Birżebbuġa and other new facilities.

Bonnet and Farrugia said that the KTAIP and the Luqa Junction Project will reduce travel time by up to 74% in each direction along this route.

“With this ambitious project, we are not only continuing to improve connectivity around our country but also strengthen road safety, ease traffic and reduce travel time. This is one more link in a chain of projects that are being carried out to ensure our country is equipped with infrastructure suitable for the 21st century and government’s economic model,” Farrugia said.

He further stated that this project will create easier and safer connections to Luqa, Gudja, Birżebbuġa, Kirkop, Imqabba, Qrendi, Żurrieq and Safi as well as other areas in the vicinity.

Bonnet stated that €25.6 million is being invested into KTAIP and the Luqa Junction Project, however, this will be co-financed by the Europeans Union’s Connecting Europe Facility. The EU funds will cover €21.9 million.

IM plan to open the flyover for use by the end of the year.