A total of nine bus lanes, covering 3,285 metres, are being constructed in the most densely populated areas in Malta through the MODUS project, said Transport Malta in a statement today.

As part of this project, the existing bus lane at the Ferries, in Sliema, which has been constructed with the aim of giving priority to the public transport service, is being extended along Triq ix-Xatt, Gzira. The inner traffic lane will become a designated bus lane, along a stretch of 694 metres while parking along the promenade will be retained. 

This design was based on queue and delay surveys carried out in Triq ix-Xatt, Gzira whereby it resulted that there is sufficient capacity on one traffic lane to meet the traffic demand on this section of road. Triq ix-Xatt merges to one-lane in the immediate vicinity of Manoel Island at a junction where merging movements pose a safety hazard.  Hence, with the proposed design, traffic approaching the Manoel Island Junction would already be one-way, thus eliminating the traffic merge movements at this traffic sensitive location.

Works on the footways have already commenced on site. Works on the bus lane are being carried out during the night. No road closures are envisaged during the works period on this project.

This new bus lane in Gzira is part of the MODUS Project, which is co-financed by the European Union under the European Regional Development Fund. 

The MODUS project is striving to mitigate negative trends in Maltese transport by making public transport more efficient and reliable.  This is being done through various measures that will minimize road congestion and make public transport more attractive.

Other bus lanes which have been designed specifically to target high traffic demand areas, where public transport buses have the highest probability of delays, have been constructed and are fully operational in three different locations in Aldo Moro Street in Marsa, in Pieta and Msida, in Triq Sant Anna Floriana and in Sliema Ferries.

A new bus lane in Blata l-Bajda will be constructed in the coming weeks.