Updated | Santa Luċija road tunnels get planning permit

The construction of two tunnels beneath the Santa Luċija roundabout has received the Planning Authority’s blessing.

The project was approved on Tuesday morning by the three-member Planning Commission headed by the authority’s deputy chairperson Elisabeth Ellul.

The tunnels will link Vjal Santa Luċija, which is the hill alongside the Addolorata cemetery, and Triq tal-Barrani. New slip roads connecting the roundabout with the underpass will be constructed and the roundabout will be shifted to a slightly different position.

A cycle-lane will also be created along the northbound carriageway.

But the project will also lead to the uprooting of 547 trees, including 39 protected olive trees and 125 trees currently within a protected area near the cemetery.

Attempts will be made to transplant 262 trees, including the olive trees. However, 285 trees will be permanently lost, including 210 Mediterranean cypress trees. The project will result in the loss of 6,989 square metres of agricultural land.

Concerns had also been raised by the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage that said the archaeological studies were conducted without its supervision. However, the heritage watchdog still gave the green light regardless.

It also commented, that one of the buildings marked for demolition, could have cultural heritage value. No assessment as to whether this is the case, was conducted on the building.

The works will also comprise of the demolition of buildings on either side of Vjal Santa Lucija, in order to widen the road.

Transport Minister Ian Borg said in a Facebook post that the investment will result in a 30% decrease in travel time and a reduction in the risk of accidents for road users.

“It also means access to more cleaner air for residents of Santa Luċija, Tarxien and Paola,” Borg said.

Outraged Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar react

Flimkien ghal Ambjent ahjar (FAA) described the project approval as a "short-sighted decision" by the Planning Authority and Transport Malta. 

The organisation said that the Santa Lucija tunnels will result in the destruction of a 1km stretch of mature trees and the loss of agricultural land.

FAA said that this is exacerbated by the fact that though the traffic carriageways will be widened for private transit, the authorities left no room for adequate bicycle lanes and pedestrianised paths in their plan.

The environmental NGO referred to the National Transport Strategy 2050 issued by Transport Malta itself which decrees that "the trends of increasing car ownership and the inability for supply to continue meeting travel demands by private transport at its growing rate is resulting in ever increasing levels of congestion. Experience has shown that such trends only contribute to a transportation system whose future growth is unsustainable."

FAA are concerned that the authorities concerned are not showing due diligence to the policies and plans that support sustainable development, despite the fact that these are the same authorities that came up with the sustainable policies themselves.

Last August the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) had claimed that the environmental impacts of the Santa Lucija development would likely be insignificant and that an Environmental Impact Assessment is not required.

FAA said that they are completely appalled and staggered that the authority responsible for environmental protection deems such an unsustainable application to have little impact and that the institutions keep encouraging further car use.