Barrakka Lift

It is located inside the ditch of the fortifications of Valletta, and links Lascaris Wharf to St. Peter and Paul Bastion and the Upper Barrakka Gardens.

[2][3] Eventually it was decided to only construct the lift on the Grand Harbour side, and the contract was signed on 24 December 1903.

[4] Macartney, McElroy & Co. Ltd hired the London-based subcontractors Joseph Richmond & Co. Ltd.[3] The construction costing £5,000[a] was completed in September 1905.

[8] In World War I, problems arose regarding the supply of spare parts and coal which was used to power the lift.

[9] In October 1917, the company was forced to suspend the lift due to a lack of spare parts, and operation resumed only in June 1919 after the war had ended.

Initially this did not take place due to the significant costs involved, but the lift was eventually demolished between June and August 1983.

[18] Demolition was carried out by the General Construction and Engineering Company, which had been set up by the government specifically for dismantling the lift.

[17] Plans to construct a new lift at the site were initiated in 2004, with the intention being to facilitate access to the historic centre of Valletta from the Grand Harbour, where cruise liners were being berthed.

The estimated date of completion was originally March 2011,[19] but delays related to obtaining the required permits led to work on the project beginning in July 2011.