An application has now been submitted for the road widening project at Triq tal-Balal, a spokesperson for the Planning Authority has confirmed with The Malta Independent.

Times of Malta reported last week that the works had forged ahead even though no permit had been issued by the Planning Authority.

The newspaper said the announcement of the start of the works, by Transport Minister Ian Borg, took many by surprise since there had been hardly any mention of such plans.

Certain road works are exempt from planning permission but projects like the one in tal-Balal, where the footprint is being enlarged, require a permit.

Infrastructure Malta, the agency tasked with road projects, last week gave the Times a 'vague' reply, insisting that it was liaising with the PA "in view of the urgency and national importance of this upgrade, to complete these processes as swiftly as possible to ensure that road users can start benefitting from this new infrastructure in time before the be-ginning of the academic year in October."

The agency confirmed that it was still seeking a development permit to be able to encroach on adjacent land. It insisted that, for the time being works were only being carried out on the existing footprint.

Asked why works were being carried out in the absence of a permit, a spokesperson for the PA yesterday said that the authority "is in discussions with Infrastructure Malta and Transport Malta in line with the application submitted which has been outlined as urgent, citing national road transport requirements and improved access to the nearby Mater Dei Hospital and the University of Malta."

Asked to clarify, the spokesperson explained that a planning application has been submitted, adding that it was probably not yet visible on the PA's website because it was still in its early stages.

Earlier this month the Transport and Infrastructure Ministry said the project would address difficulties in Triq tal-Balal, a major road link between Naxxar, Għargħur, Iklin and San Ġwann.

"The project which is being implemented by Infrastructure Malta, extends from the roundabout at the northern end of the road, linking Triq tal-Balal to Naxxar, Iklin and Triq M. Murray to and from Għargħur, and concludes in San Ġwann. Works include the building of a new 2-kilometre lane in the southbound carriage of this road, from Naxxar to San Ġwann, and the rebuilding of Triq tal-Balal's four roundabouts, to introduce new bypass lanes and improved junction designs."

The ministry said the new roundabout designs will also reduce travelling times through several secondary roads in the area, including Triq tal-Ibraġ, which links the l-Ibraġ and Madliena areas of Swieqi to San Ġwann, and Triq M. Murray, connecting the Birguma and Tat-Tarġa areas of Naxxar with Triq tal-Balal.

The existing street lighting and vehicle restraint systems along this road will be upgraded as well. The new road design also includes a number of bus lay-bys for safer public transport commutes. All works on site are scheduled to be completed by the end of summer.

Minister Ian Borg said the road's capacity was exceeded several years ago, causing congestion and increased vehicle emissions in this area. "By adding a lane in the southbound direction and by optimising the design of this road's roundabouts, we are increasing its capacity to meet current and future demand and to continue reducing travelling times along this route. As the road and its junctions become more efficient, air pollution caused by vehicle emissions from long queues in this road will decrease as well," the Minister said.

The upgrading of Triq tal-Balal is one of several ongoing projects launched this summer to alleviate existing difficulties in the country's road network, reducing accident risks and travelling times, the government says.