Palace Square to be resurfaced

St George's Square in Valletta, or Palace Square, as it is more commonly known, will soon be laid with tarmac because of the poor condition of the paving, Valletta Rehabilitation Project coordinator Ray Bondin said.

The square will be closed to vehicles between August 17 and 24.

Dr Bondin said the tarmac will be a temporary measure until the government takes a final decision on its plans for Valletta.

He said the government was still involved in discussions over the proposed Connections Project with the Renaissance Consortium, which is formed of the Dhalia Group, Pilastri Ltd, Jost Marten, Paul Micallef, Federated Mills and the British company Amak, which built the tunnel under the English Channel.

If approved, the project would see the consortium drilling two sea-level tunnels underneath Valletta.

A terminal and landing stage would be built right underneath Palace Square from where lifts will take passengers up to the heart of Valletta.

Separate lifts would handle cargo which may be stored in warehouses on another level. A third level would consist of a car park right beneath the square.

No parking would be allowed on the square once the project is completed.

But Mr Bondin said the square was in such a bad state that temporary action had to be taken until discussions were concluded.

He said the cost of the resurfacing was still being calculated.