Parts of Testaferrata and Enrico Mizzi streets in Gżira will be excavated for some seven months after the planning authority approved the extension of underground parking for the multi-million Metropolis scheme.
The project, which will include the tallest building on the island, will have three high-rise structures consisting of 13, 27 and 33 floors over a public piazza that connects the two streets.
When its permit for development was renewed last year it was reportedly going to cost €60 million, but earlier this year investor Jalal Husni Bey said €40 million more will be ploughed in.
The high-rise development will include 191 residential units and ancillary amenities for residents, including a health club, leisure facilities, offices, retail outlets, a supermarket and 500 parking spaces distributed on four underground levels.
Yesterday, Mepa granted permission for the excavation of half of the width of the two roads to accommodate an additional 126 car parking spaces and an extension to the approved underground supermarket.
Architect Edwin Mintoff said everything will remain the same from the ground level upwards and traffic flow will not be affected when the project is completed.
The construction of the parking is expected to take 33 weeks and in the meantime spaces and one lane on both roads will be closed temporarily.
Mr Mintoff expressed confidence in keeping within the allocated time frame which was drawn up through a construction management plan.
During the public hearing, a businessman who said he had no complaints about the Metropolis project expressed concern about lack of parking during the excavation.
Mr Mintoff said that while he understood his concern, there would be 620 parking spaces when the project was completed.
Meanwhile, board member and MP Ryan Callus – who also expressed concern about the history of the site, which had been left idle for some time – noted that in this particular case, since public land was being excavated, the authority should be “stricter”.
To ensure that the developer reinstated the road within 33 weeks, the board imposed a bank guarantee of €50,000 and a daily fine of €1,000.