Lunzjata chapel to be turned into roundabout

Transport Malta is proposing a new road in an archeologically sensitive area in Bahar ic-Caghaq that will effectively turn the Lunzjata chapel into a round about.

The proposal consists of a 500-metre, two-way carriageway replacing an existing country path and the widening of Triq il-Katakombi.

A new exit road to the Coast Road will be constructed. Each lane will have a width of seven metres. The road-widening will involve the obliteration of part of the chapel’s parvis.

The project is a spill-over of the widening of the Coast Road. Transport Malta claims that the existing access to the Salini residential hamlet is dangerous with drivers approaching from the main road having inadequate visibility of the exit, due to inadequate stopping sight distance.

The Superintendence for Cultural Heritage has given its blessing to the works arguing that the church’s parvis is of a modern date and has no historical significance. The Superintendence also insisted that none of the works encroach on the nearby Salina Catacombs.

The Environment Protection Directorate has objected to the “excessive” width of the new road. Din l-Art Helwa has also objected insisting that the project will “result in yet another chapel in a roundabout.”