Din l-Art Helwa this morning again called on the government to make the feasibility study on the proposed Gozo bridge by China Communications Construction Company public.

In a statement, it said information about the permanent link to Gozo was not handled in a transparent manner.

Din l-Art Helwa noted that it had been asked for the report to be made public in August but although information was given to the media this week, it had still not been given the requested information.

Bridge would undermine Gozo Channel’s commercially feasibility - FAA

Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar said the inconvenient crossing did not justify the building of a bridge that would cost over €1 billion. Another €1 million will be required for annual maintenance, money which could be spent in maintaining roads.

A bridge would undermine Gozo Channel’s commercially feasibility, imposing an extra burden on the taxpayer as ferries would have to be retained since bridges all over Europe closed in high winds.

Any fixed link to Gozo would greatly increase traffic congestion and air pollution, undermining health and quality of life. The bridge would also have a permanent visual impact on the archipelago landscape, a protected Natura 2000 site.

FAA questioned the legality of having the bridge feasibility report carried out by the same company that would build it.

“On no account should the option of compensating the Chinese developers in land be considered,” it said.