The planning authority has given its go-ahead for the construction of a storm water tunnel in the south of Malta. The tunnel will be about 2.7 kilometres long – of which 1.9 km will pass beneath roads between Marsascala and Xgħajra.
The €55 million EU-funded project is designed to target 12 towns prone to flooding: Balzan, Lija, Attard, Iklin, Birkirkara, Gżira, Msida, Żebbuġ, Qormi, Marsa, Żabbar and Marsascala. It should be completed by 2013.
The Resources Ministry welcomed the project’s approval, saying the tunnel would collect about 650,000 cubic metres of rainwater – almost twice the amount collected in government reservoirs.