Group to lobby for Malta-Gozo fixed link

Map showing the various alignment options
A pressure group which will promote the boring of an undersea tunnel between the islands of Malta and Gozo in the Mediterranean Sea, will be officially launched in December.

The front will lobby in favour of better accessibility to neighbouring island Gozo, aiming at the construction of a fixed link. It said a tunnel would give Gozitans the same work and study opportunities enjoyed by the Maltese. The front noted that all studies so far indicated that the tunnel, at an estimated cost of €300 million, was feasible and would come at a much lower price than an estimated €800 million bridge. The proposed road tunnel will consist of a single tube, 11km long and 100m below sea level.

Meanwhile Gozo Minister Anton Refalo said that while he is in favour of building a tunnel, it needs to be integrated with plans to improve the transport situation in Malta, possibly by going for a bigger project which would also encompass the building of road tunnels under traffic choke points in Malta. He also argued that if the proposal was made subject to a referendum, the votes of Gozitans needed to be given more weighting because using the tunnel would be a necessity for them.

Nov 30, 2015

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