65% of all Gozitans favour tunnel

The survey appears in MaltaToday's special edition, GozoToday, published today. GozoToday is available from all leading newsagents, stationeries and the Gozo ferries.

Support for a tunnel link is strongest among younger Gozitans. In fact, while only 53% of over 55-year-olds would like a road connection between Malta and Gozo, more than 75% of those between 18 and 34 support the idea. 

But despite their tunnel, Gozitans are more sceptical about the practical implementation of the idea, which they broadly support, 57% of Gozitans think that the project would be feasible.

A survey conducted by MaltaToday in 2007 had already shown that 57% of Gozitans already supported the idea of  a bridge connecting the two islands. 

The idea of a less environmentally intrusive submarine link seems to have convinced even more people.The idea of creating a tunnel which would link the two islands was first studied in 1971, when the government had commissioned a study by the Overseas Technical Cooperation Agency of Japan.

But in what may be considered perfect choreography, the initial proposal for a Malta-Gozo tunnel was not made by government but by Gozitan businessman Joe Borg, during a visit by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi to the FXB Xewkija furniture factory on Friday 28 January.

Then it was Chris Said’s turn to endorse the proposal, costing it at €150 million and organising a public dialogue meeting on the subject. This figure was later disputed by former transport minister Jesmond Mugliett who believes that the cost will be closer to €500 million.

Despite the hype about the project, it is extremely unlikely that the feasibility and environmental impact of the project will be determined before the next election. 

Said claimed that this project would be financed by private investors if they saw good return over a number of years, and may even qualify for EU structural funds.

Private investors will only recover the substantial capital investment through tolls paid by those using the bridge – quite a new concept for the country.

Therefore, the feasibility of the investment will depend on its pay back time. This in turn will depend number of people making the crossing and their willingness to pay for the service.

The rock in the area of the channel between Malta and Gozo has been recently described as “geologically promising” for the excavation of the tunnel, by the President of the Norwegian Tunnelling Society Eivind Grøv during a visit in June.

But biologist and former PN candidate Alan Deidun contends that  a substantial area of the Channel between Malta and Gozo is covered by protected habitats at EU level, and this could be a major hurdle in any EIA on the project. While sea-grass meadows cover a substantial area, there are also a good number of caves and reefs.

On its part, Labour has passed the buck to Gozitans, with Labour leader Joseph Muscat insisting that “decisions could not be imposed but should be taken by Gozitans.”

Nationalist voters are keener on the tunnel project, when compared to their Labour counterparts, but the survey enjoys strong support among supporters of both major parties.