Dual carriageway to Ċirkewwa terminal completed
A dual carriageway from Armier to the Ċirkewwa Terminal was concluded on Tuesday, the Transport Ministry announced.
The Ministry for Transport said that this project will decrease congestion in the Ċirkewwa area, offer better road safety, as well as cater for cyclists.
The Ministry of Transport announced that the infrastructural project, aimed at better facilitating and organizing traffic around the Ċirkewwa Terminal, has been concluded. It explained that the continuous carriageway dedicated to cars headed towards Gozo from the Armier roundabout in the direction of the Ċirkewwa Terminal has been finished.
The Ministry said that whilst the works were undergoing on this project, Infrastructure Malta also carried out necessary maintenance. It said that through an investment of €7 million, the journey for people who wish to cross the channel is being facilitated without closing off access to parts around the terminal for workers, public transport and other traffic that is not heading to Gozo.
The Ministry said that the traffic congestion for the last 13 years had disrupted the public transport service, as well as the emergency services when the queue for cars waiting for the ferry went over the marshalling area and created great challenges for others who wished to access Ċirkewwa at these times, including emergency vehicles and divers. It added that this project was done to also address a record number for journeys that are being registered to and from Gozo.
Transport Minister, Chris Bonett, that the increase to have two carriageways, instead of one from Armier to Ċirkewwa, allowed better organisation in this area and a decrease in traffic.
“The aim of this project always was to better facilitate the journey towards the Ċirkewwa terminal for whoever crosses the channel. Following the successful completion of works on the road to Għadira Bay last month, we may now say that the infrastructure from the start of Marfa Road to the Ċirkewwa Terminal is totally new. In this way, whilst we are strengthening the value of this zone, we are giving a better infrastructure to whoever makes use of it”, he said.
The Ministry said that the project was done over two-and-a-half kilometres, with iron structures dividing the two carriageways being changed and replaced by concrete structures which are certified to offer the best security possible. It said that the change of these structures, which Infrastructure Malta had first introduced in 2019, made it more possible to gain more space.
The Ministry said that the novel design of the road was planned to eliminate the crossing of vehicles from one side to the other, as well as allowing the installation of a new light system, amongst more security measures. It added that importance was given to cyclists through the widening of certain areas in the carriageway for bicycles in the road from the Marfa Roundabout to Ċirkewwa. It concluded in saying that the works on this project began in the middle of February and were finished, as promised, before the summer season.