Maltese valley to get back its lost stone arched crossing

The Planning Authority of Malta will fund reconstruction of a historically significant rural footbridge.

Now and then – a historic photograph of the bridge over Wie il-Mgarr and an image of the ruined structure as it is today. Credit: The Planning Authority of Malta

Until the 1950s, the valley of Wie il-Mgarr on Gozo, the smaller of Malta’s two islands, was spanned by an arched bridge built from the traditional Maltese franka stone. Only remnants of the structure now exist, but the reconstruction plans are being guided by historic photos.

The restoration is part of a sustainable development project to revitalise the island. The project, alongside work to clean the valley and improvements to stormwater harvesting infrastructure, will be carried out by Ghansielem Local Council and the Eco Gozo Directorate.