Landscaping project for Vittoriosa waterfront to start soon

A comprehensive landscaping project at the Vittoriosa waterfront is expected to start in the coming weeks.

The works, to be completed by summer, include the widening of the walkways and their paving with hardstone, the rehabilitation of the storm water system, the construction of a new road and the installation of street furniture and lighting.

The works will be carried out from the Vittoriosa Gate inwards along the waterfront.

The project is expected to cost about Lm400,000, Lm170,000 of which will be allocated by the Ministry for Urban Development.

The various consortia engaged in the Cottonera Waterfront project will be contributing to the landscaping. They also gave their input into the designs of the landscaped areas, which were prepared by the ministry.

Permit applications were submitted to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority a month ago and the tender documents are being drafted.

The project could now be carried out because most of the heavy infrastructure works along the waterfront had been completed, a spokesman for the Ministry for Urban Development said.

The completed components of the Cottonera Waterfront redevelopment project are the Casinò di Venezia, the development of St Angelo Mansions, the extension of St Angelo Wharf, the opening of the Grand Harbour Marina, the restoration of Carafa Stores, the construction of a sea wall at Kalkara Creek and the redevelopment of the Treasury Building.

"The upgraded waterfront will eventually join up with the development of the Cospicua waterfront which will form part of the Dock One project, currently at selection stage," the spokesman said.

One of the primary aims of the Dock One development is to provide a continuous waterfront from Senglea point to Fort St Angelo.