Malta-Gozo Tunnel Project Description Statement Malta Transport Centre Triq Pantar, Ħal Lija LJA 2021 Malta www.transport.gov.mt May 2018 MALTA-GOZO TUNNEL Project Description Statement Assignment Project Description Statement Project Title Malta-Gozo Tunnel Location Malta, Gozo Applicant Mr James Piscopo Architect Perit Sarah Pace (Developer) Chief Executive Officer Warrant Holder Major Projects Unit Transport Malta under the Periti Roads and Infrastructure Malta Transport Centre Act, 1996 Directorate Triq Pantar, (Cap. 390) Transport Malta Ħal Lija LJA 2021 Vjal l-Avjazzjoni, Malta Luqa LQA 9023 Malta T: +356 22914505 T: +356 25555246 E: [email protected] E: [email protected] No. Date By Reason for Revision Revisions 00 May 2018 SP / EG First draft. Page |- 2 - MALTA-GOZO TUNNEL Project Description Statement Table of Contents Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................. 3 Endorsement .................................................................................................................................... 4 Section 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 5 1.1 Outline ............................................................................................................................................... 5 1.2 Background and Purpose .................................................................................................................. 5 1.3 Previous Studies ................................................................................................................................ 6 1.4 Ongoing Studies ................................................................................................................................. 6 1.5 Project Objectives .............................................................................................................................. 8 Section 2 Description of the Project .............................................................................................. 9 2.1 Preliminary Design ............................................................................................................................. 9 2.2 Physical Characteristics of the Project ............................................................................................. 14 2.3 Surrounding Infrastructure .............................................................................................................. 15 2.4 Project Phasing ................................................................................................................................ 16 2.5 Project Location ............................................................................................................................... 16 2.6 Tunnelling Methodologies ................................................................................................................ 18 2.7 Envisaged Operations ...................................................................................................................... 19 2.8 Access .............................................................................................................................................. 19 2.9 Infrastructural Services .................................................................................................................... 20 Section 3 Environmental Aspects and Effects ............................................................................ 21 3.1 Waste Management......................................................................................................................... 21 3.2 Discharges from Operational Functions .......................................................................................... 21 3.3 Residues and Emissions during the Construction and Operation Phases ....................................... 22 3.4 Noise and Vibrations ........................................................................................................................ 22 3.5 Groundwater Low-Down ................................................................................................................... 23 3.6 Flora and Fauna ............................................................................................................................... 23 3.7 Agricultural Soil Take-Up .................................................................................................................. 23 3.8 Air Quality ......................................................................................................................................... 23 Page |- 3 - MALTA-GOZO TUNNEL Project Description Statement Endorsement James Piscopo Chief Executive Officer Transport Malta Malta Transport Centre Triq Pantar, Ħal Lija LJA 2021 Malta www.transport.gov.mt T: +356 2555 5210 Page |- 4 - MALTA-GOZO TUNNEL Project Description Statement Section 1 Introduction 1.1 Outline This Technical Report is the principal document of the Project Description Statement (PDS) that refers to the development permission for the Malta-Gozo Tunnel project. This document is being prepared in line with the requirements of L.N. 412 of 2017 – Environment Protection Act (Cap. 549), Schedule II (Regulation 12), which outlines the information to be provided in the PDS. The applicant is Mr James Piscopo, Chief Executive Officer of Transport Malta (TM), whilst Perit Sarah Pace is the Project Leader on behalf of TM. 1.2 Background and Purpose The two main islands of the Maltese archipelago, Malta and Gozo, are currently linked by the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) through a ferry crossing from Ċirkewwa in Malta to Mġarr in Gozo. The Government of Malta has embarked on a long-term strategy to address the accessibility between Malta and Gozo, thus addressing the everyday problems being experienced by Gozitans to travel to their place of work, to reap benefits from increase in influx of tourism and increases in general economic activities. The number of vehicles crossing between Malta and Gozo increased at 4.1% per annum between 2000 and 2010. In 2010, there were an average of 1,500 vehicles per day per direction (AADT = 3000 vehicles) and 5,500 people per day per direction travelling between Malta and Gozo. In 2015, according to the NSO, a total of 1,348,502 vehicles made the crossing – an increase of 5.4% over the previous year. The expected traffic load (AADT) in a 15 years forecast with a toll payment is an AADT at approximately 9,000 vehicles1, with around 5% heavy vehicles. The introduction of a fixed link, apart from ensuring reliability of service, would reduce average journey times between Gozo and Malta by at least 40 minutes, and would ensure that commuters have more control on their travelling schedule. The fixed link would also provide a second means of travel between the two islands. 1 E-Cubed Consultants (2015). Establishing a Permanent Link between the Island of Gozo and Mainland Malta: An Economic Cost Benefit Analysis of Available Strategic Options. Page |- 5 - MALTA-GOZO TUNNEL Project Description Statement 1.3 Previous Studies A Preliminary Survey Report was compiled in 1972 by the Overseas Technical Cooperation Agency of the government of Japan2. In 2012, Mott MacDonald carried out a preliminary analysis of road tunnel link options between Malta and Gozo3. The study included a review of fixed sub-sea tunnel links relevant to the Malta-Gozo crossing, and provided four tunnel alignment options which could be considered, taking into consideration the engineering and environmental constraints. The main conclusions of this analysis were the following: . A tunnel link between Malta and Gozo would be feasible, and does not exceed the capability of current technology. A detailed geological and geotechnical investigation is required in order to determine the optimum tunnel alignment and construction methodology. An immersed tube tunnel would result in an extensive environmental impact on the seabed, and thus a bored tunnel is recommended. The tunnel portal locations need detailed considerations from a geological and environmental perspective. An Economic Cost Benefit Analysis was prepared in 2015 for the Gozo Business Chamber and Transport Malta4. The study analysed the economic and financial feasibility of alternative solutions of connectivity between Malta and Gozo. The conclusions of the analysis, both from an economic and financial perspective, resulted in a tunnel as being the preferred option when compared to a bridge or to no fixed link project. In 2017, a Social Impact Assessment was carried out by Dr Marvin Formosa5 whereby the possibility of a permanent tunnel link was analysed. The study found stakeholders in Gozo to be overwhelmingly in favour (82%) towards the construction of a permanent link between the two Islands. 1.4 Ongoing Studies As from 2016, Transport Malta initiated a process of gathering information on the sub-surface conditions of the proposed tunnel route between Malta and Gozo to ultimately establish a geological model of the area under investigation which will form the basis for the design of the tunnel. These studies are a major milestone in the process to guide the design of the proposed tunnel between the islands. 2 Overseas Technical Cooperation Agency – Government of Japan (1972). Link Road between Malta and Gozo Islands – Preliminary Survey Report.