3 comments so far.Update: Tender issued for Malta-Gozo tunnel Geological study
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Update: Transport Malta has issued a call for tenders for a geological study of the sub-surface of the Malta-Gozo Channel.
It said that the winning contractor will conduct geotechnical investigations at various points on land and in the channel, with drilling expected to reach approximately 200m below sea bed level in some areas.
The extracted core samples will help establish a geological model of the area, which will eventually determine the feasibility of boring a tunnel.
The winning contractor will conduct geotechnical investigations at various locations on land and in the channel, with drilling expected to reach approximately 200m below sea bed level in some areas.
The extracted core samples will aid in establishing the geological formations of the area, which will eventually determine the feasibility of constructing a tunnel.
TM said that the investigations forming part of this tender are part of wider studies being commissioned in order to gather information on the sub-surface conditions of the proposed tunnel route between Malta and Gozo and ultimately establish a geological model of the area under investigation. “The model will in turn form the basis for the Conceptual Design of the tunnel.”
The Government has embarked on a long-term strategy to address problems that Gozitan commuters face everyday. Between the year 2000 and 2010, the number of vehicles crossing increased by 4.1% each year. In 2010 an average of 1,500 vehicles crossed each day in each direction, said Transport Malta.
Last year, figures released by the National Statistics Office showed that a total of 1,348,502 vehicles made the crossing. This reflected an increase of 23% over the 2010 traffic.
Transport Malta concluded by saying that, “the study is a major milestone in the process to eventually establish a fixed link between Malta and Gozo.”
Update: The Front Favur il- Mina in response to the announcement of the call said that since the Front was formed its main objective was for geological studies to begin as soon as possible on a tunnel link.
With this call the Government has started the process for the construction of a tunnel between Malta and Gozo to facilitate access between the two islands.
“The need for serious and detailed studies carried out within a specified period was also discussed at the National Conference organised by the Front earlier this year,” it said.
The Front added that it will continue to work to ensure that accessibility between the islands is further improved, including through the investment of a fast ferry that can carry hundreds of passengers crossing daily from Gozo towards the center of Malta.
Photograph by Alain Salvary
I have recently immigrated to Gozo from San Francisco, CA, USA, land of dozens of tunnels and bridges connecting all points of the Bay Area. And yet the most enjoyable commute there is by Ferry, with someone else doing the driving and the ability to enjoy the view. On the bridges and tunnels, one little event can bring traffic to a standstill so the ferry is often faster. The article above speaks of 1,845 cars per day making the crossing [1,500+23%]. On a bridge or tunnel, that would be less than 2 cars per minute [of course more during commute and less at midnight]. Bridge/tunnel investors may tell you that is not near enough demand to support any permanent connection. In my apartment in SF, 270,000 cars passed each day on I-80. If only 1,845 cars pass each day, the toll would be $150/car to repay the cost of $1 billion of design, approvals & infrastructure over 10 years. $1 Billion is only $154,000 per meter, a reasonable cost for a non-controversial project, but perhaps low for a controversial one such as the Gozo tunnel/bridge. I understand the pressure for progress; I only hope that logic will triumph over emotion and what ever happens takes a long time so I can enjoy my peaceful corner of Gozo for a little longer.
Fair points Don. This is all government and academics delusional talk and the Maltese government love wasting money on pipe dreams. I love the ferry and the feeling that Gozo is unique because there are no road links with Malta. It is what makes Gozo special. I could think of a thousand better ways of spending billions of euros. I suppose all this talk is just a result of small island mentality.
What’s interesting is that this call for a geological study comes some months after the government and its brown-nosed hanger-on lobby groups declared it to be “feasible”.
And then there was the revelation that the map on which they had been working had somehow missed out a 50-metre layer of rock…
Nobody is saying how wide it might need to be – how many lanes – nor anything about access in the (inevitable) event of an accident.
I agree with both Don Roberto and George Palmer and, as a fervent anti-chunneller, thank them for their views and their special insight.