A major scheme to upgrade part of Malta’s main road network is cutting journey times, providing greater accessibility for motorists and increasing road safety. The improvements provide a boost to the island’s tourism industry and should also reduce costs for transport operators.
- 04 August 2014
This project is part of a wider set of measures which sees the TEN-T road network upgraded through various stages of work. TEN-T stands for Trans-European Transport Networks, which is a huge EU investment in transport infrastructure across the continent. Billions of Euros are being spent on the TEN-T programme so that people and goods can move through and across the Member States more easily.
Multi-stage scheme
Feasibility and environmental impact studies for Malta’s TEN-T roads took place in 2004. A number of projects were then identified for upgrading works. Five sections, covering 9.25 km, received money from the European Regional Development Fund and Cohesion Fund under the 2004-2006 programming period. A further five sections, covering 12.4 km, are being constructed under Phase one of this overall scheme, and are also receiving money from the Cohesion Fund.
This investment is for phase two covering work on a 7.3 km section of the Salina Coast Road in the north east of the island. There are two parts to the project: one is to reconstruct and upgrade 3.6 km from the Buggiba junction to a new junction which leads to the village of Maghtab; the second is to reconstruct and upgrade a 3.7 km stretch of road from Maghtab to the Commonwealth Cemetery.
The work includes upgrading the existing single carriageway to a dual carriageway. A footpath is installed along one side of the new road layout along with cycle-paths which run on either side of the dual carriageway. The revamp also provides new roundabouts which will increase the capacity of existing junctions. In addition, measures for environmental sustainability are being introduced, including storm water reservoirs, landscaping and LED lighting and signalling.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Improvement of Sections of the TEN-T Road Network Phase II” is EUR 57 064 741, of which the EU’s Cohesion Fund is contributing 42 364 293 from the Operational Programme “Investing in Competitiveness for a Better Quality of Life” for the 2007 to 2013 programming period under the priority "Developing the TEN-T".