Major upgrades are required at four tunnels across the island to ensure that fire safety standards are in line with EU directives and international best practices.

Preliminary studies found fire exits need to be upgraded at the Kirkop, Santa Venera, Tal-Qroqq and Ta’ Giorni tunnels to ensure they conform to higher safety standards, Kylie Ann Borg Marks, a leading architect at Infrastructure Malta, has told The Sunday Times of Malta.

The international directives apply to all tunnels and most specifications are meant for tunnels that are longer than the ones in Malta. However, a planned €10 million upgrade will make sure the tunnels, some of which date back to 1967, are on a par with best practices internationally.

Site visits found that, while the tunnels are structurally sound, fire exits need to be clearly marked and escape route markers readily visible.

The tunnels are safe, Ms Borg Marks reassured the newspaper, but more needs to be done to ensure all fire safety targets set by several international guidelines are kept.

Infrastructure Malta has therefore issued a call for tenders for a €10 million upgrade which would include fire hydrants, fire alarms, escape route markers, fire doors and emergency call stations.

Fire exits need to be upgraded

At the Kirkop tunnels, the fire safety concerns include multiple passageways between the two tunnels needing to be shut down.  “With the current number of openings, the connections between the two tunnels could be dangerous in cases of a fire, since the chances of the blaze spreading across the two tunnels increases,” Ms Borg Marks said.

Air quality levels will also be monitored after the upgrade, with the agency looking to install sensors detecting abnormally high air pollution.

Data published in a study by the European Environment Agency (EEA) showed the island has the highest levels of air pollution compared to other Member States. Vehicle emissions continue to be the biggest source of pollution.

Artist’s impression of a new-look tunnel.

Another of the upgrades in the tunnels will be to paint the walls with specialised compounds so that soot can be removed more quickly and easily, Ms Borg Marks said. Geo-radar scans will identify any cavities to establish the extent of work needed.

Also, CCTV cameras will be installed to alert the authorities when an accident takes place. A control room adjacent to the tunnels will be manned so that power can be cut off in case of emergencies.

The cameras and sensors will be linked to the national Traffic Control Centre for constant monitoring. They will also be connected to an incident detection system that can automatically alert the authorities of any difficulties, such as fires or stalled vehicles.

Work is set to start later this year.