Carmel Saliba, Victoria
Tunnel a need not luxury
“It is time to connect the two islands with a permanent road,” Joseph Borg, former chairman of Gozo Channel, said recently. He was reported with great prominence in the local media and what he said merits the highest consideration.
As far back as 1968, the idea of a causeway, a bridge, had been launched. A pressure group was set up to stop this project because it was believed that Gozo would lose its peace and quiet. I can confirm that I was one of those who at that time opposed the bridge.
For some years a service was given by means of a helicopter but it is not the right solution for the daily commuter and nor is an airstrip, which is raised from time to time but seems to attract little attention.
Gozitan commuters experience daily difficulties, spending at least two hours to make the voyage by ferry, which is heavily dependent on weather conditions. It is a daily race against time. Problems are faced by at least 1,000 Gozitans working in Malta who need to park their cars in Mġarr, where parking space is very limited. There are also several Gozitan workers who use a second car which is usually left parked at Ċirkewwa to be used only in Malta and thus eliminate the daily payment for their car to Gozo Channel.
A few days ago I had one of my worst experiences due to the bad weather conditions. After seven days hospitalised in Mater Dei following a major operation, I had to wait for at least 45 minutes in a car at the other side of Ċirkewwa, on the quay being used by the ferry because of the bad weather. I had just missed the previous trip by seconds. It took me one-and-a-half hours to get to Mġarr from the time I arrived in Ċirkewwa.
From my car I could observe the daily Gozitan users of Gozo Channel shivering in the rain, wind and cold.
The possibility of a “permanent road” between the two islands, as raised by Mr Borg, was followed by news that Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said would be formally presenting the proposal with preliminary studies to Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi.
Let us hope that this important issue will not be shelved but studied as it is a constructive one. Let us hope that all five Gozitan members of Parliament will work together so that Gozo will be linked to Malta, thus enabling Gozitan commuters to have a real and decent mode of transport in all kinds of weather conditions.
According to the Demographic Review of the Maltese Islands (1995, 2001) in 2025, 24.4 per cent of the Maltese and Gozitan population will be over 60. In Gozo alone, though, this percentage will be much greater. The main problem is the number of Gozitan youths who emigrated before 1975.
Now Gozo is facing another form of modern emigration. This is to our sister island of Malta. This proposed “permanent road” would stop the younger generation from settling in Mata due to the present difficulties to travel to their place of work. Even Gozitan industry can be improved and more people will find work in Gozo.
In the absence of this proposed “permanent road” Gozo will soon be considered as an elderly and/or holiday resort.
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Anglu Xerri
Feb 17th 2011, 20:47
It will be very nice to have a tunnel but it is easier said than done. All the trucks that carry dangerous goods must still use the ferries and I am also referring to all the cars that carry gas canisters. Labels on dangerous goods trucks are the pits. If the toll on the tunnel is going to be just expensive as the ferry, Gozitans are still going to use public transport and park a car in Cirkewa. The ferries will be needed in case a big accident in the tunnel and have to close for more than a week. A maintenance crew almost as large as the Gozo channel with a check gate at each entrance, with stricked conditions, let alone the huge land it requirers at each end.The authorities must be very carefull before they justify 200,000000 euros for just 1000 Gozitans that work in Malta. Besides the people that use the crossings will not have to shiver in the rain, wind, cold and blistering summer sun if Cirkewa was built to accomodate the passengers. Warning, for both Parties. Please dont try to win votes by this tunnel bit when you campain for the next Election.
James A. Tyrrell
Feb 17th 2011, 20:14
@Franco J Scicluna.So basically what you want now is an air link, a better ferry service and a tunnel or a bridge. You don't want much then! The air link would be a useless waste of money only being used by those few who could afford it or of course pilots like yourself. The ferry service has improved over the years and if a terminal was built at Ċirkewwa as was promised it would be even better.
The bridge idea is probably a non starter as it would spoil the look of the islands and leave Comino open to developers wanting to build apartments due to the great shortage of apartments on Gozo and Malta! Who knows some idiot might even decide that Comino needs an air strip. That leaves a tunnel as the best alternative. Get an experienced foreign company to carry out the study and let the people decide if they want it. It will be a transport solution for all the people rather than the few which is why it makes so much sense. Or is it just another pre election Eco Gozo.
Franco J Scicluna
Feb 17th 2011, 18:36
Dear Mr. Saliba, you must be liveing in cookoo land if you believe that Malta and Gozo will be haveing a permanent road. I do agree with you and with most others that agree with its concept, but believe me,I have very little faith that this will ever happen. Gozo has been taken for a ride for so many years, with broken promises, for that to happen. Gozo is a serie C island, A permanent Presepju. Gozo needs a bridge or tunnel, a constant ferry link, and a small airstrip for urgent gate away.Unless that happens, the island will remain in the stone age.
wally vella-zarb
Feb 17th 2011, 16:44
How much do you think the "at least 1,000 Gozitans working in Malta" would be prepared to pay in order to pass through this tunnel on a daily basis?
James A. Tyrrell
Feb 17th 2011, 16:19
@Ramon Casha. I have seen these silly figures being thrown about in the press before and in my opinion they are simply being plucked from the air to scare people. Don't you think it would be a better idea to wait until any relevant studies have been completed and a concrete figure agreed on before deciding?
@John Caruana. Your idea of a causeway or bridge from Qala to Kemmuna and from Kemmuna to Marfa has also been raised many times and my main concern with that idea is what would happen to Kemmuna? Once we make access to the island easier the developers will want to move in.
I don't think any studies should be carried out by Malta as such. Similar tunnels have been built for years in Norway and they are managing to do it for under 70 Million Euros. Given that they have years of experience in this field I would suggest that the people involved in these projects are commissioned to carry out the necessary studies and if necessary oversee the actual building work. If it's left to anyone in Malta they will just stumble about for years with no outcome.
Ramon Casha
Feb 17th 2011, 13:46
How can you decide that the tunnel is a "need" before knowing what it will cost? What if, once the study is completed, it is determined that in order for the tunnel to be feasible, every person passing through it (including Gozitans and people who pretend to live in Gozo) would have to pay €50 PER TRIP?
Joseph Calleja
Feb 17th 2011, 15:08
Mr Casha you hit the nail on the head. Besides why are we talking about Tunnels and Bridges when we can't even finish the Cirkewwa Ferry Project? Even if by any chance, us tax payers decide on a tunnel or a bridge linking Malta and Gozo in any way, we are talking about the future and according to Maltese progress that would be 2050. Why don't the Gozitans and Maltese alike both insist on the COMPLETION of the Cirkewwa Ferry Terminal before or by the year 2013, as promised? Besides, can we really afford to spend more of the tax payer,s money. Don't forget we have to finish City Gate and the Open Air Opera House. Priorities, Priorities. Will such a tunnel generate enough electoral votes? Don't forget the millions of euros we have to shell out for the Air Malta bail out.
John Caruana
Feb 17th 2011, 13:26
Dr. Franco Mercica, Mr Borg and Hon Dr. Said plelase keep pressing for a phisical link. How about a causeway from Kemmuna ta Qala Point and a bridge from Marfa to Kemmuna. It would be cheaper and Kemmuna could become a tourist attraction
Angela Scerri
Feb 17th 2011, 12:55
I think that the bull being missed by most darts is that tunnel or not, it would still be TIME-CONSUMING for Gozitans to cross over to Malta. I think the actual bull that needs to be taken by the horns is the CONGESTION OF CARS ON OUR ROADS.
If WE change our mental ET and our mode of transport and aim to remove all private cars from our roads over a short period of time, eventually most Gozitans would find it easier to catch the ferry in a few minutes,since they would no longer be caught up in frustration, in traffic. Another bus, from the much-awaited promised-to-be-efficient-and-punctual new transport service, would then take them to their destination on another SHORT trip as our Maltese ROADS WOULD BE FREE from congestive traffic. Their journey should be pleasant because of less air pollution, and quick.
Another reasons why I am against the proposed tunnel. I am worried that if the government spends too much on this tunnel, my pension might be jeopardized. Also many will then visit Stinky Pa, the pro. in Floriana to rape Gozo and her beauty.