The Qormi-Marsa component of a flood relief project which stretches from Zabbar to Zebbug, Iklin, Gzira and Ta' Xbiex has been completed, finally relieving the low-lying area of a problem which has existed for many years.

The project was launched by the previous administration and included the widening of water canals and the building of new bridges.

The area is particularly remembered for the way how, in October 2010, a torrent of rainwater flooded a warehouses, floating out a number of (empty) coffins which were being manufactured there. Residents often suffered damages when the water flooded their groundfloor rooms and carried away their cars.

Coffins carried off by rainwater flooding in October 2010

Infrastructure Minister Joe Mizzi said the National Flood Relief Project should be completed by mid 2015, with works on areas such as Żabbar yet to be carried out

The Qormi component cost €4.7 million.

The works also included the  construction of an underground water channel around 550m in length, 9m wide and 1.2 m high between the end of Wied is-Sewda and the beginning of urban development in Triq il-Wied, Qormi.

Together with this channel, in order to remove obstructions and improve water flow, three bridges in the valley were reconstructed as single span bridges, a new opening was created near the skew arch bridge close to the Lowenbrau factory while a small underground precast culvert system was constructed in the area where Wied il-Kbir meets Wied is-Sewda in the location of the Marsa Golf Course.

A precast underground culvert system made up of four openings of 3.5 m wide and 1.75 m high was constructed under Aldo Moro Road in order to eliminate the existing two bridges that are a cause of severe obstruction to the regular flow of water.