Tuesday night, Infrastructure Malta (IM) lifted into place the first of seven steel structures that will form part of the new flyover deck of the Kirkop Tunnels and Airport Intersection Project (KTAIP), which will create a direct lane from Ħal Luqa towards the Kirkop Tunnels. This new flyover will be 400 metres long and made of seven pieces of steel weighing 300 tonnes.
This was announced by Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects Aaron Farrugia, Parliamentary Secretary for European Funds Chris Bonett, and the CEO of Infrastructure Malta Ivan Falzon, who also followed the overnight works.
Minister Farrugia stated that this €18 million project is entering an intensive phase with most works being done during the night. 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.
The project also includes the rebuilding of the Gudja roundabout, to introduce a new tunnel to Birżebbuġa and new facilities for alternative means of travel. It will also improve access to the Malta International Airport and the Malta Freeport, two crucial destinations for various sectors of the economy.
“With this ambitious project, we are not only continuing to improve connectivity around our country but also strengthening road safety, easing traffic and reducing 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,” stated Minister Farrugia.
Parliamentary Secretary Chris Bonett said that €25.6 million, of which €21.9 million are European funds from the Connecting Europe Facility, are being invested in two projects: the Luqa Junction Project and KTAIP in Luqa and Gudja. Parliamentary Secretary remarked that evidence of the importance of these projects is the fact that the European Commission allocated further funds to IM to implement these projects.
“We are committed to invest more in such projects to have better infrastructure and accessibility. Residents living in Gudja, Luqa, Birżebbuġa and localities close by will have their trip reduced by 74%,” stated Parliamentary Secretary Bonett.
The placing of the rest of the steel structures of the Gudja flyover will continue in the coming days. After the entire deck is joined, IM will begin completing the last necessary works on the flyover which is planned to be opened for use by the end of the year.
IM CEO Ivan Falzon stated that this is another project led by Infrastructure Malta to continue strengthening the road network. “I would like to thank the public for their cooperation during these months of work. We will do our best to close this project as soon as possible without undue inconvenience.”
