Tunnelling towards reality
A subsea tunnel connecting Gozo and Malta has to be dug some 14 storeys or more below the seabed, according to a Norwegian tunnel expert.
“Norwegian guidelines state that a subsea tunnel should have a minimum 50 metres of rock above it,” said Eivind Grøv, chief scientist and rock engineer from Sintef Building and Infrastructure.
In a phone interview with The Sunday Times, Prof. Grøv said the depth may be more than 50 metres from the bottom of the sea if the sea bed contained sediment.
The depth at which the tunnel would be excavated also determined the location of the tunnel exits, the incline and the length of the onshore approach roads.
Prof. Grøv will be addressing a public meeting in Gozo next week on the proposal to link the two islands with a subsea tunnel. He was invited by the Gozo Business Chamber in junction with the parliamentary secretariat for public dialogue.
Although putting a price tag on the tunnel was premature, Prof. Grøv said similar subsea tunnels in Norway cost around €13,000 per metre.
With a straight line distance between Malta and Gozo of five kilometres, this means the subsea section of the tunnel alone could cost around €65 million to build. Based on a subsea tunnel to be built in the Faroe Islands maintenance costs could be around €130 per metre per year, Prof. Grøv said.
He pointed out that the most important requirement for excavating a subsea tunnel was the presence of hard rock, but thorough geological studies had to be conducted to determine other factors.
“The sedimentary rock that exists in the area can generally be considered to be hard rock but we have to look at the strength of the rock, the cracking systems in place, whether joints exist and whether these can be filled in.”
The geological surveys that have to be done if the project ever gets the green light will also factor in the seismic activity around Malta.
Earthquakes may create issues of safety but Prof. Grøv insisted this concern should not be a major stumbling block.
“If an earthquake occurred and I had the opportunity of making a choice to stay in a surface building or underground, I would rather stay in a tunnel.
“Data from Iceland and Japan, two countries prone to seismic activity, tells us that it is safer to be underground than above it.”
He explained that a subsea tunnel has three major advantages over a bridge or a causeway: it will not be an obstruction to sea traffic; it is an all-weather permanent link and incurs lower maintenance costs.
Speaking from experience of various projects involving subsea tunnels linking remote islands to the mainland, Prof. Grøv said Gozo could see an immediate increase of between 10 and 20 per cent in traffic flow, which could continue to increase gradually in subsequent years.
It is this increase in activity that the Gozo Business Chamber wants to see happening.
Joe Borg, the former Gozo Channel chairman who is behind the Gozo-Malta Permanent Link Committee of the Gozo Business Chamber, said: “During the week Gozo is an old people’s home because our youngsters come to work in Malta.”
He lamented the brain drain of young people, who eventually choose to continue living in Malta because of the inconvenience to cross over on a daily basis.
The lack of a permanent link limited the right of Gozitans and businesses based in Gozo to fully enjoy freedom of movement guaranteed by the EU, he added.
A lot has been said over the years on the best possible solution to link Gozo and Malta but the closest the island ever came to seriously considering a permanent link was in 1972 when government commissioned Japanese engineers to carry out a preliminary survey.
The options studied at the time were a bridge, a causeway and a submerged tunnel. The options were deemed unfeasible but Mr Borg believes the situation today is different.
“In 1972 there were no subsea tunnels being built and since then this technology has developed, giving us an alternative option that is more feasible,” he said. With some four million passenger movements between both islands, Mr Borg insisted the tunnel would be a major artery.
“More passengers cross between Malta and Gozo than passengers who pass through the airport. Every year some 1.1 million cars cross the channel. It is a strategic crossing and it should be treated seriously.”
He played down the argument that a permanent link would change Gozo’s character as a tranquil rural island and insisted that villages like Qrendi and Siġġiewi in Malta had still retained their characteristics despite being accessible.
What started as a private initiative has found government backing with Gozitan Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said endorsing the idea and championing it at Cabinet level.
Government has said that a pre-feasibility study will be conducted to determine whether the project can get to the drawing board but Mr Borg believes the level of political commitment has already changed the prospect from a dream to reality.
The public meeting with Prof. Grøv will take place at the Grand Hotel in Mġarr on Thursday at 7 p.m.
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33 Comments
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joe galea
Apr 26th 2012, 14:03
I guess elections are close to- morrow we will find oil :)
Mr Carmel Camilleri
Jun 13th 2011, 18:56
I am sure that we Gozitans not only want a bridge or a tunnel but we are in dire need of one or the other to help us solve our work,health,education,business,social and other daily problems.
Mr Tony Camilleri
Jun 12th 2011, 22:18
Will the Gozo Business Chamber be paying for the Tunnel?
Anthony Grech
Jun 17th 2011, 22:17
Mr. Camilleri. Do you think that GBS have the money to pay for the tunnel? That money comes from the EU, and then if and when it is done the goverment put a fee for crossing of maybe 10 to 15 euros,for the Maltese and for tourist,well that will be double for them. Does this answer your question?
david debattista
Jun 18th 2012, 18:24
You will be paying for the tunnel and the rest of us JUST WAIT !
Mr J Galea
Jun 12th 2011, 20:47
To the Gozo business chamber: Don't kill the goose with the golden egg with this crazy idea. To be sure, Gozitans would have an easier crossing which would be welcome for them to work in Malta and nobody would be against that but visitors would regard Gozo as just another set of villages of Malta and this is sure to kill the appeal of Gozo as a separate island. People come to Gozo because they love the difference it has to Malta and, yes, most enjoy the ferry ride. And just another "small" point, looking at the maintenance and safety standards of other tunnels in Malta, particularly those built in recent years, I don't think that the maintenance issue is as clear cut as this expert is saying. This is Malta not Norway!
Mr James Tyrrell
Jun 14th 2011, 19:45
Mr Galea I'm one of the tourists you are referring to and yes I have no problem whatsoever with the ferry crossing. Actually I find it a very relaxing way to arrive on the island for my holiday. However I can also see the situation from the point of view of the local people who have to make this crossing every day in all weathers and I can see how such a connection would greatly improve their lives. I certainly wouldn't see Gozo as just another set of villages of Malta as you say.
Michelle Buhagiar
Jun 12th 2011, 18:02
I appeal to all those concerned with creating this blessed tunnel to stop wasting time, energy and money.
Mr Steve Sant
Jun 12th 2011, 16:47
What on earth for, to turn Gozo into another overpopulated and over built Island. Crazy, who comes up with these ideas.
Mr C Cassar
Jun 12th 2011, 16:30
It would cost a fraction of €65 million (which is many times less than the real cost) to add another 3 ferries to the Malta-Gozo ferry service, that way you could run a ferry every 15-20mins. That's plenty frequent even for those moaning on Gozo.
Mr James Tyrrell
Jun 12th 2011, 17:17
And how would you load and unload a ferry in 15 minutes? The tunnel would be a permanent feature and unlike the ferries wouldn't need replacing at extra cost on a regular basis. Plus the people on both Malta and Gozo would have the ability to travel when it suited them rather than waiting for a ferry.
Mr John Azzopoardi
Jun 12th 2011, 17:25
Mr Cassar, we Gozitans don't moan like you Maltese do. WE do with what we have. The maltese in malta don't moan because they get everything and leave the crumbs to Gozo. I dare you to say I am wrong. Ook at tourism. Gozo has been left behind because the tourist campaign is all about malta. Who in his right mind is going to want to add 300-500 euror in extra transportation expense to travel to Gozo. Most tourist are on budget.
Gianfrancesco Buttigieg
Apr 30th 2012, 15:29
300-500 in extra transport costs to go to Gozo?
I think Gozo Channel might be ripping you off, Mr. Azzopardi
Marcel Avellino
Jun 12th 2011, 16:20
€65 million to build, around €650,000 per year to maintain. The charge to go through the tunnel will probably be much more than the ferry and the project will end up bankrupt as people will continue using the ferry. England was linked to the continent by the Eurochannel....but that's England not tiny Malta!!
Pardon me sir but I prefer not to pay more taxes for nothing!!
Mr James Tyrrell
Jun 12th 2011, 17:14
You obviously don't mind paying extra taxes for an unneeded Parliament building on stilts, a useless roofless theatre and an insult to the Maltese people in the form of a hole instead of a city gate. All of which will cost a lot more than this tunnel. Not to mention of course all the extra pay your Government are awarding themselves for digging you deeper into dept. And why would the charge be more than the ferry? The Holland tunnel connecting New York to New Jersey charges a toll of $8 which isn't too bad so why should this be different?
Mr Wally Vella-Zarb
Jun 12th 2011, 18:26
@ James tyrell
"The Holland tunnel connecting New York to New Jersey charges a toll of $8 which isn't too bad so why should this be different? "
Two reasons: (1) The $8 is for a small car, East-bound, the one-way distance being less than 3 kilometres, (2) an average of 100,000 vehicles pass through the tunnel each day.
Mr Wally Vella-Zarb
Jun 12th 2011, 20:50
@ James Tyrrell
A further factor that one may well consider: The average weekly wage in the borough of Manhattan is $2,404, the highest average among the nation's largest counties, i.e., those with 75,000 or more jobs. Queens led the other four New York City boroughs with a weekly wage of $812, which was 9 percent below the national average of $889.
I do believe that average incomes in the Maltese islands are somewhat lower…
Mr James Tyrrell
Jun 14th 2011, 19:39
@Mr Wally Vella-Zarb. And by that reasoning the toll charged to the people of Malta and Gozo should also be lower!
Jesmond Micallef
Jun 12th 2011, 16:02
Yes and by all means, this massive undertaking has unquestionable potential which will continue transform the Maltese islands even further. This is very serious so please do a proper consultation in this regard with no stones left unturned. Gozo needs a permanent link, this is fact and a vital infrastructural neccessity which any Government has to face, whether it likes it or not, either today or tommorrow, but not the day after. Politically, I am completely not interested in who will do this but know it has to be done.
Good luck and with very best wishes.
Mr John Azzopoardi
Jun 12th 2011, 14:09
Let's be realistic. A tunnel the size that it is, about 3 miles will cost billions of EUROs. Last year, while on vacation to the US, a small tunnel between the state of New Jersey and New York was said to cost approximately $5 billion, not million, dollars. And that is just an estimate. Let's be realistic. A tunnel will not be built in our lifetime. If we spend all that money, why not a bridge.
Mr James Tyrrell
Jun 12th 2011, 17:08
John the figure is based on similar subsea tunnels in Norway which cost around €13,000 per metre. Whilst I agree that the venture may never actually happen, why are you trying to scare people away from the idea with silly talk about billions? By the way the toll charge for the Holland Tunnel leading from New York to New Jersey is $8 which may give some idea of the sort of charge to expect.
Mr John Azzopoardi
Jun 12th 2011, 17:22
James, I am just saying like it is. We need to be realistic when we say or plan something. And we all know that the cost of a tunnel is not going to be financed by Malta if it ever happens and will the EU does it. So I am trying to be realistic. And the cost quested in this article is just a very small fraction of what it will cost. Let's not put a whole in the sea for nothing.
Mr James Tyrrell
Jun 12th 2011, 19:45
The point is John if it came about it would be a great benefit to all the people of Malta and Gozo. The subsea tunnel is obviously going to be the most expensive part of the operation and the Norwegian expert has given his opinion with regard to how much this would cost and that opinion is €65 million not $5 billion. I agree that if it was left to the Maltese then the cost would be a lot more but thankfully the Maltese know nothing about building subsea tunnels and would have to bring in experts, in this case the Norwegians. I'm just sorry I'm not in Gozo at the moment as I would have found Prof. Grøv's talk very interesting.
Mr Tony Camilleri
Jun 12th 2011, 22:24
Mr James Tyrrell who is footing the bill for the study?
Is it the Gozo Chamber or us through our taxes for this mad idea?
You know what Mr James Tyrrell?
This idea was brought up by someone who is trying to have an upper hand on the Gozo Queen,
That is the simple reason.
The fact that it NOT feasible does not mean that the politician who tried it will not try to tell the people that he tried and that it was not his fault that it never materialized.
Politics is s dirty business and in certain parts of the country it is dirtier than the rest.
Mr James Tyrrell
Jun 14th 2011, 08:55
Oh I agree with you 100% Tony which is why I never vote! As I said when the subject was first raised it is probably just another pre-election vote fishing exercise like the Eco-Gozo one.
Danika Vella
Jun 12th 2011, 12:39
"The lack of a permanent link limited the right of Gozitans and businesses based in Gozo to fully enjoy freedom of movement guaranteed by the EU, he added."
So as this tunnel will be made mainly for the benefit of the Gozitans because they have a right to freedom of movement, if this tunnel somehow materializes, I bet that the average Maltese will probably pay more to cross the tunnel than the average Gozitan for the same number of crossings.
Ray Mifsud
Jun 12th 2011, 11:36
It is being said that the tunnel will cost some 65 million euros. Looking at previous projects, the projections were never achieved.
The maintanance issue is something to be aware off and I fully agree with Mr Zammit,
I hope that those who are in favour for this project will not start moaning about the cost that one has to pay for the crossing when using the tunnel. I think it would be much more expencsive then the ferry. I hope that this money will be wisely spent and the project will be feasable and with the amount of crossings it will be self maintained.
Is it possible that a professional calculate the cost of a crossing, so by the time of this meeting we will have an idea. Probably I am asking too much?
Mr James Tyrrell
Jun 12th 2011, 17:00
Ray I don't think the use of the tunnel would be more than the cost of taking a car across on the ferry or anything like it. I would say that the actual cost of construction would be met by EU funding and private investment for the most part. The toll charge would have to be worked out from the point of view of paying off any outstanding costs and covering the maintenance costs which would depend on the traffic flow yearly.
Mr Tony Camilleri
Jun 12th 2011, 22:26
Mr James Tyrrell who in his proper state of mind would believe that such a tunnel will only cost €65 million?
Dennis Zammit
Jun 12th 2011, 10:55
The biggest difference between our country and the rest of Europe especially northern European countries is the lack of a culture on maintenance.
WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE IS !!!!
We can easily see the bridges in Ta' Giorni with the security railings still missing and with empty water barriers to pretend that they are secure. We can also mention the Sta Venera Tunnels which where never protected and when water seeped in, they covered part of the roofing with plastic so that the Pope will not get wet! So instead of repairing, they covered it and diverted the water draining.
We can also mention the small overhead bridge in the Mriehel Bypass near Joinwell which was never protected with proper coatings. Furthermore, damaged road signs are left as is and never cleaned to ensure maximum safety for the drivers.
Surely that this is not the same culture anyone can notice in other European countries where real effective maintenance is the run of the day.
How can we compare ourselves with these countries when we do not even know what maintenance really means? An underwater tunnel is surely not a practical solution especially with our mentalities and budget constraints.
Be realistic !!
Mr Tony Gatt
Jun 12th 2011, 12:44
Hopefully that culture will change. Anyway there will come a time when the ferries will have to be replaced so one has to counter the cost of the tunnel against ferry replacement.
Mr James Tyrrell
Jun 12th 2011, 15:35
Dennis believe me the lack of preventive maintenance is not just a Maltese problem. I see it every day where I work. It seems that a lot of companies now think that it makes more economic sense to wait for a breakdown and then repair rather than try and prevent the breakdown in the first place. In the case of a subsea tunnel obvious this strategy would not be an option!
It's good to see that the idea is being looked at seriously and that the right people, the Norwegian's are being consulted.
Victor Pulis
Jun 12th 2011, 10:46
Data from Iceland and Japan, two countries prone to seismic activity, tells us that it is safer to be underground than above it.”(during an earthquake.)
I am no expert but in the tunnel case you are not only under ground but also under sea since you have billions of tons of water above your head and if the tunnel cracks the tunnel will be flooded in minutes.
Just a layman's thought.
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