Transport Malta installed a tidal lane system in Sir Paul Boffa Avenue in Paola and is currently testing it.  

The tidal lane is a system that changes the direction of traffic in one lane to maximise the capacity of the road.  The tidal lane in Paola is a first for Malta. 

Sir Paul Boffa Avenue is a four-lane road. Such a road is usually split into two carriageways, two lanes northbound and two southbound.  With the tidal lane, one lane allows traffic from one direction during the morning and from the other throughout the evening.  Retractable bollards will control the direction of the lane from both sides.  A set of bollards will be lowered and another raised guiding vehicles to access the lane from one direction or the other.  

Transport Malta implemented a number of measures to make the transition safe.  Fixed bollards delineate the transitional lane so vehicles cannot veer off in the wrong direction.  Traffic lights have been installed to stop cars from accidentally going over raising bollards.  The bollards will only be raised after officials visually ascertain no cars are approaching.

Transport Malta will change the lane direction at 21:00 to have three lanes going towards Valletta during the following morning. The lane direction will change again at 14:00 to have two lanes towards Valletta and two towards Paola when most people return home from work.  The tidal lane will maximise the efficiency of the road within the existing capacity. 

Transport Malta asks drivers to follow signs and drive with caution especially during these first days of a new system for Malta.