'Eastside Tunnel will be open by the end of the month' Chief Minister confirms in Parliament

The Eastside Tunnel will be open by the end of the month, having taken more than twice as long as the Channel tunnel.

The Chief Minister told Parliament it would be operational before the next meeting of the House.

The opening of the tunnel which has taken around 15 years to complete is on track to open in the next few weeks.

This was revealed after a question from Damon Bossino on whether there were plans to refurbish the sundial roundabout.

The Chief Minister said the sundial will now no longer be the first roundabout tourists will encounter on entry to Gibraltar and that this will now be the one on Devils Tower Road.

Mr Picardo added the refurbishment of the sundial was not a priority for Government spending at the moment.

Transport Minister Paul Balban said works in the area of the roundabout will coincide with plans for the relocation of the College of Further Education and the construction of the new National Stadium as well as the re-development of the old Blands Avis building and the plot of the old Bayside School.

In answer to a question by Opposition member Marlene Hassan, it was also revealed the Cross of Sacrifice will remain in its current site although Heritage Minister John Cortes said Campion Park had been identified as a possible location.

The opening of the tunnel will also mean only pedestrians and cyclists will continue crossing the runway.

This afternoon's tetchy session also included a debate on Devil's Tower Road with the Opposition and the Government agreeing to differ on whether Devil's Tower Road had turned into a concrete jungle or was a vision for the future.

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