Tigne' Tunnel to open for traffic
The long-heralded and much delayed tunnel under Tigne' Point will finally open for traffic tomorrow (Tuesday), just as Bisazza Street officially becomes a pedestrian zone.
The 250-metre long tunnel was built by Midi as part of the Tigne' project and was actually completed in 2008, but its opening was delayed by changes to traffic plans and works on the connecting roads, which were government's responsibility.
The building of the tunnel has a long history. In 1992 a bypass through Tigne' featured in the strategic plan for the local road network to relieve traffic from Sliema's core.
It was pushed underground and by 1999, plans were completed. The building of the tunnel was entrusted to Midi as part of their contract conditions for the Tigne' Point project.
The tunnel was eventually increased in length to wind around the Garden Battery, so that it could be preserved. This 19th century fortification system was not originally scheduled to be conserved according to the Outline Development Permit.
Following the opening of the tunnel, the government plans to resurface Locker Street and St Anthony Street, which took the traffic while works on Bizazza street were underway and the tunnel was still closed.
Pictures: Clifton Fenech - DOI
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Ms Jane Clare
Jun 7th 2011, 11:02
The Transport Malta representative guarding the entrance to the Tigne Tunnel today told me that NO BIKES and NO PEDESTRIANS are allowed as it is not safe for them. There is no bypass for BIKES or PEDESTRIANS to reach Tigne Point or the Strand either.
So if pedestrians have Bisazza Street and cars have the Tigne Tunnel, what safe route do bikes have?
PS All the photos online show the Manoel Island end of the tunnel; probably the journalist could not find a way of approaching the far end without a very confusing and circuitous walk - because there is no pedestrian route equivalent to this "link road"!
Mr J Curmi
Jun 7th 2011, 12:37
@ Clare - ride up Locker Street and down St Anthony's....that ought solve the problem..:)
Peter Barbara
Jun 7th 2011, 10:54
Min kien responsabli qabel inaghta il-proget lil Midi kien jaf li kona naghdu bil karozza u nitpaxu bl'art tal poplu,ma b'newx triq li tadi min qalb il bieni lussuz ghax inkela inafru il bejh ta lapartamenti imma ghax ahna Maltin ghalquna ghajnejna biex nadu mil-MINA u nibqu ghadejin u naraw hitan tal konkos,biex inzidu iktar il-problemi tat-trafiku nerga naghjt min haseb ghall proget ghamel MINA single line ghax inkela inaqsu mil area fejn bnew l'appartamenti .
Mr Peter Korsten
Jun 7th 2011, 10:44
From the photos, it looks like it suffers from what all tunnels in Malta suffer from: no gradual change from the bight outdoors to the dark tunnel. Especially in summer, there's a brief moment of near blindness until your eyes have adjusted to the dark, and that moment could be the difference between a successful breaking manoeuvre and a crash. Given that there's already a structure on one side of the road leading towards the tunnel, it shouldn't have been too difficult to build the sort of 'blinds' that let your eyes adjust more gradually.
Mr J Curmi
Jun 7th 2011, 12:35
@Korsten - easy....slow down...:)
Ms Maria Vassallo
Jun 7th 2011, 10:40
Long live the prophets of doom!
Long live the prophets of gloom!
Long live the maltese gerger!
Long live the spoiltsports!
Long live the envious!
Long live the jealous!
THANK YOU VERY MUCH PRIME MINISTER AND GONZIPN!
Charles Massa
Jun 7th 2011, 11:24
Thank you talli ghamel triq li wara kollox tithallas bit taxxi taghna. Forsi GONZIPN irid jinsa ftit mit tahwid li qieghed fih fil prezent
Mr T Zahra
Jun 7th 2011, 18:39
Are you serious Maria???.....Thank you GonziPn for a project which is three years late in opening and the article is about a tunnel which was designed built and financed by the private investor not bloody gonziPn...you are surely blinded ....surely not by the light at the end of the tunnel...cause i sure as hell cannot see it.
Stephen Koludrovic
Jun 7th 2011, 08:43
I would not risk going with a bike in that tunnel.
As for the nearby apartments, I hope that they have installed double glazed windows to counter the fumes and the noise that will come out from this tunnel.
Mr Giov DeMartino
Jun 7th 2011, 18:07
X'tippretendi Sur Massa li jaghmilha minn butu?
Raphael Dingli
Jun 8th 2011, 08:58
please tell me how double glazed glass will minimise fumes.
Mr J Tonna
Jun 7th 2011, 08:20
Ambitious and creative project which is seeing a transformation of a previously derelict patch of land. And to realise that practically all this project is financed by private enterprise.
Similar to the Valletta Waterfront masterpiece, this project is another evidence of the Government's successful venture under the private public partnership concept.
Mr J Curmi
Jun 7th 2011, 00:28
Will cyclists be allowed to ride through the tunnel? Bicycle lane? If not, which road ought cyclists ride to go to Gzira from Ghar id-Dud?
Mr J Curmi
Jun 7th 2011, 12:36
I see that it ought not be a problem - ride up Locker Street and down St Anthony...no probs..:)
Ms Jane Clare
Jun 6th 2011, 23:11
If only the Prime Minister would visit Sliema more often, all the troubles of this beleaguered town could be solved it seems. One visit and the tunnel is open next day! Miraclous
JOSEPH TANTI
Jun 6th 2011, 21:38
I wish to congratulate Midi PLC for the great job they have undergone for the 250meter tunnel. It looks very similar to the ones we see in certain european countries where tunnels are their major arteries for heavy traffic. Hope that the central strip is well built for heavy impacts such as head on car crashes since the tunnel, from what I read is a two way traffic system.
Mr Karl Micallef
Jun 6th 2011, 21:10
Neat!!
Silvio Abela
Jun 7th 2011, 14:26
Mr. Micallef,
What's so neat? The uninterrupted concrete view? Haven't you ever seen some of the Sicilian tunnels or others near Milan? They are painted a good bright colour, they are lit more than adequately, they have ventilation fans that channel stagnant air.
What is neat? The fact that it is a one lane road? What happens in case of an accident? Can the traffic be routed? As it stands, that tunnel can barely let a large lorry (of which Sliema sees a lot these days) full of rubble etc.
In my opinion, this tunnel smells of short sightedness not jealousy, not "spoiltsports", not envy (comments addressed to Ms. Micallef). And GonzPn had nothing to do with it. It has been in the plans since 1992!!!!
Mr BERNARD STORACE
Jun 7th 2011, 18:21
If one takes into consideration the driving style of our educated motorists, the use of indicators for turning, slowing down, stopping or simply entering the traffic stream and the turning on of one's lights to see but above all to be seen, I am sure that there will never be an accident in the tunnel. For this reason it was not deemed appropriate to install a crash barrier centre strip, adequate lighting at both ends and ventilators/extractors. At the same time many, many parking spaces have been removed to accomodate 'Arriva'. More chaos, more confusion for the residents. This is called progress, joke!!!