CC INFRASTRUCTURE
Santa Lucija tunnels
Quality infrastructure pays A new analysis by economist Dr Gordon Cordina confirms that we stand to gain over €1,200 million in benefits from seven road projects that Infrastructure Malta is implementing across the country. But what’s really in it for us, and for our businesses?
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nfrastructure Malta was established less than a year ago, with an unprecedented €700 million seven-year budget to overhaul the country’s road infrastructure. Economic growth, increased mobility and rising population figures are taking their toll on Malta’s ageing road network. Through its road upgrades, this new agency forms part of a multi-faceted plan spearheaded by the Ministry for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects. It aims to improve existing transport systems, develop and popularise alternative modes of mobility and ultimately make our commutes quicker, safer and more sustainable.
Dr Gordon Cordina
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In his new analysis presented in April, Dr Gordon Cordina reviews the impact of seven major Infrastructure Malta projects, adding up to €141 million, to identify and quantify their benefits to road users and to the Maltese economy. This sample comprises just a fifth of the agency’s planned infrastructural investment in the next few years. The seven projects reviewed include the reconstruction of the Marsa Ħamrun Bypass, the Marsa Junction Project, the widening of Triq tal-Balal between San Ġwann and Naxxar, the rebuilding of Triq il-Buqana between Mtarfa and Mosta, the new tunnels beneath the Santa Luċija roundabout, the Central Link Project between Mrieħel and Ta’ Qali, and the Triq Sant’ Andrija upgrade in Swieqi, Pembroke and St Julian’s. Whilst some of these seven projects are completed or nearing completion, others are planned to start soon. Through the reduced congestion attained by these projects, road users are gaining €25 million in fuel cost savings every year. As travel times are reduced, they will also have five million additional hours of free time for more work and more leisure. Air pollution caused by vehicles will also decrease substantially. Carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles, one of the main causes of climate change, will decrease by 62,000 tonnes every year, the same amount
saved every year by all photovoltaic (PV) panels currently installed in Malta and Gozo. “There are a number of other economic and social benefits and costs which are difficult to measure and were only assessed through a multi-factor criteria analysis,” Dr Cordina adds. “These projects do not only improve vehicle accessibility registered in time saving. They also encourage modal shift as a result of more new infrastructure dedicated to public transport, cycling and pedestrian mobility, such as reserved lanes, cycle lanes, safe pedestrian paths and crossings.” “Another important gain is the generation of induced occupational activity. The effect on level of employment is both direct, due to the phase of construction, and indirect, as a result of the general increase in accessibility of the area with consequent positive affect on the local economy.” By improving the arteries included in the seven projects, travel times along other parts of the network will decrease as well. Similarly, as arterial roads become more efficient, commuters are less likely to opt for alternative routes through village core streets and secondary countryside roads that are not meant for high volumes of vehicles. As air and noise pollution caused by congestion decrease, nearby lands and properties are likely to gain more value as well. APRIL/MAY 2019