EU funds to reconstruct Victoria-San Lawrenz road

One of the first infrastructural projects to be carried out in Gozo using European Union funds will be the reconstruction of a major arterial road that connects Victoria to San Lawrenz, the Ministry for Gozo said yesterday.

Funds under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), specifically under the Gozo priority, will result in the total reconstruction of this road, which is five kilometres long. The road connects the western part of the island with the central area and is the main route to and from the villages of Ghasri, Gharb and San Lawrenz as well as Ta' Pinu and Dwejra.

The Ministry for Gozo had submitted this project for consideration to the Project Selection Committee and the Cabinet, together with other projects to be co-financed by the EU, after discussion with the main stakeholders on the island.

Commenting on the project, Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono explained that the project was an important one for Gozo especially when one considered the geographical dimensions of the island. She said that German experts had visited Gozo and prepared a report on the state of the roads, giving special attention to roads that needed to be totally reconstructed.

Mrs Debono said that a call for tenders would be issued in the coming days and would close towards the end of December. After the evaluation period and the awarding of the tender, works should start in the following months and should be completed in a year's time.

The project will involve intensive work. The road will not simply be given a new layer of tarmac but will be dug out, completely removed and rebuilt, with new layers of tarmac placed. The project involves the investment of €4 million, €1 million of which will be provided by the government, through the Ministry for Gozo.

Mrs Debono said the Ministry for Gozo has submitted applications for different projects to be co-financed by the European Union. She said the ministry has also submitted another project for further reconstruction of roads in Gozo to be carried out under the allocation of €2.8 million in Cohesion Funds.