Heritage watchdog given Santa Luċija tunnel survey results via SMS

Despite the Planning Authority’s go-ahead for the construction of a tunnel in Santa Luċija, the heritage watchdog has reiterated its concerns that legal obligations meant to safeguard possible archaeological remains had not been adhered to. The Superintendence for Cultural Heritage made this remark on September 19 – a day after the PA board unanimously approved the €20 million project. Announced a year ago, the underpass is meant to alleviate traffic congestion in the southern part of the island and complement the new multi-level junction under construction next to the Addolorata Cemetery. Concerns over the manner in which the project was being handled by Transport Malta were formally raised last month in a submission the superintendence made to the PA. The heritage watchdog complained that a geo-radar survey to indicate any possible remains in this “very sensitive” archaeological site, near the Tarxien Temples and the Santa Luċija Hypogeum, had been carried out by the developer (Transport Malta) without its consent. Furthermore, the superintendence ruled out that this was an oversight, as it had twice alerted the developer in writing on the need to consult with it on the...