The €70 million three-year Marsa junction project is "on track", and motorists will be able to commute across three new lanes by summer, according to details given on Thursday.

Based on current progress, new lanes on Triq Ġuze Gatt, Triq il-Gvern Lokali and Triq Aldo Moro will be completed as part of the second phase in the coming months, Transport Minister Ian Borg said.

Addressing the media with European Commissioner Corina Crețu at the project site, which sees some 8,000 vehicles every hour, Dr Borg said that by the end of the year, €6.2 million would have been invested in the project.

This translated into three kilometres of new or rebuilt lanes, 11,500 tonnes of asphalt for new lanes, the demolition of two factory buildings, six kilometres of trenches for utilities or telecommunications networks, 1.7 kilometres of storm water systems and 400 metres of cycle lanes.

The Marsa Junction project will see the elimination of the traffic light system to allow for uninterrupted traffic flow

Apart from drastically reducing waiting time for commuters, less traffic congestion would mean improved air quality for the neighbouring localities of Marsa and Paola, the minister added.

The Marsa Junction project will see the elimination of the traffic lights system to allow for uninterrupted traffic flow.

So far, the biggest challenge was determining which interventions could be carried simultaneously without interrupting commuters, Dr Borg noted.

Accompanied by ministers Helena Dalli, Dr Borg, and Parliamentary Secretary Aaron Farrugia, the Commissioner for Regional Policy has visited other project sites benefiting from EU funds, including the Xewkija industrial estate and lower Valletta.

Minister Dalli thanked the 70 Transport Malta and contractors' employees involved in the project. She noted that through its financial support, the EU was helping improve people's living conditions.

When it comes to those living around the Marsa junction, the project will help them save time wasted in traffic every day. The stretch of road that usually takes 20 minutes to travel will now take only one minute.