70% of the St Andrews project within Swieqi has been completed Infrastructure Malta CEO Ivan Falzon told journalists on Thursday.

During a media briefing, he said that some parts of the project will be opening to traffic in the coming weeks.

He added that 30% of the whole project has been covered by asphalt, whilst 60% of the new walls have also been completed.

The previously announced hairpin road structure near the Luxol grounds is also ready, he said.

In the coming weeks there is also going to be the installation of crash barriers with the aim of strengthening safety on the roads. At the same time, a new traffic lights system will be installed.

Infrastructure Malta said that there are no plans for major diversions up until the conclusion of the project.

Falzon said that given that this project will uncover the old Red Cross building, there are also plans to regenerate the building itself.

The project is expected to be completed by the end of February 2024, wherein a total of 258 trees will have been planted by then.

The creation of the two hairpin turns should improve traffic flow from both the northern and southern directions, Infrastructure Malta hope, and reduce the use of traffic lights in the area.

Works began back in August and a budget of €4 million was allocated to the project.

Falzon also said that Infrastructure Malta is soon going to file an application with the Planning Authority to replace the current traffic lights system in place next to Paceville on Regional Road, with two flyovers.

It is estimated that around 1,600 vehicles pass from this area every hour.

Infrastructure Malta had originally intended to build a 1.5 kilometre tunnel between the Coast Road and St George’s Bay, but this has now been shelved.