The demolition of the buildings that for 30 years housed shops in Valletta’s Freedom Square will start in the coming days, according to City Gate project manager Jean Marc Smith.

During this process, the bulk of the debris will be disposed of through a chute down to the ditch below in an effort to limit inconvenience to passersby.

The debris will then be loaded onto large trucks parked in the ditch, known as the Yellow Garage area, and transported away from the site.

However, before demolition can begin, the most modern part of the railway tunnel beneath City Gate must be removed.

Together with Chris Paris, CEO of Grand Harbour Regeneration Corporation, Mr Smith gave a detailed overview of the works that started yesterday in the ditch.

Workers started tearing down part of the bridge – just over one metre – which was added on after World War I. However, the original part of the bridge, built in the 1880s, will remain untouched and eventually be restored.

The works were carried out over the weekend to reduce the inconvenience to commuters, Mr Paris said.

Mr Smith, director of Bovis Project which is overseeing the City Gate Project, underlined the importance of minimal impact for passersby. The government has pledged to deliver the City Gate project, which will see the construction of a new parliament building and the embellishment of the former opera house site, by 2013.