A 200-metre stretch of Regional Road could be roofed over and the newly won street-level space turned into a green lung.
The idea, unveiled by the Environment Ministry on Friday afternoon, must however be deemed feasible by a high-level assessment if it is ever to go ahead.
They would see a stretch of Regional Road beginning from just after the Santa Venera tunnels and leading up to Triq Misraħ il-Barrieri roofed over at the level of Triq Brighella and its surroundings.
Doing so, the ministry said in its statement, would better protect Santa Venera locals from noise and fumes generated at the busy thoroughfare and allow for "green infrastructure" at street level, to help mitigate against urban creep.
Environment Minister Jose' Herrera said the government was keen to do all it could to help Santa Venera residents who suffered from excessive air and noise pollution.
No timeframe or further details about the "high-level assessment" were provided by the ministry.