A tunnel or a bridge... just who gets to choose?

It was 1972 when a government last studied the option of a bridge linking Malta and Gozo. The unfavourable results of that study closed the lid on the subject for almost 40 years but it did not dampen the Gozitans’ yearning to have a permanent link. Two years ago the Government rekindled the debate by proposing a sub-sea tunnel. A pre-feasibility study released last year showed that a tunnel link would reduce the crossing time from 25 minutes to 8 minutes by car and cut the average journey time by at least 40 minutes. A more in-depth study will now have to take place that will be partly financed by the EU. The renewed interest has also prompted the current administration to enter into an agreement with a Chinese company to conduct a separate feasibility study for a bridge link (see separate story). Much of the debate has focused on whether the projects are technically possible and economically viable but Gozo Minister Anton Refalo this week opened up a tangential debate when proposing a referendum on the matter. If the projects prove feasible, should it just be the Gozitans who decide on the preferred option or should the consultation rope in all taxpayers? The argument may be a...