Infrastructure Malta said it has completed the rebuilding of a country road at Tal-Hemsija, creating a safer exit for road users travelling from Ta’ Qali to the Ta’ Srina roundabout, between Attard and Rabat.    

This rebuilt one-way road will be used as the northbound exit from the Ta’ Qali’s Crafts Village area, eliminating the need for the traffic lights junction at the northern end of Triq l-Imdina, a few metres away from the Ta’ Srina roundabout. the agency said.

Road users travelling from Ta’ Qali to get to Zebbug, Rabat or Mosta currently have to go through Triq l-Istadium Nazzjonali, reach the traffic lights junction with Triq l-Imdina and cross the southbound lane’s oncoming traffic lane to get to the northbound lane and on towards the Ta’ Srina roundabout. Through the new configuration using the rebuilt road at Tal-Hemsija, road users travelling to these localities will no longer have to use the Triq l-Imdina junction, eliminating a major accident black spot.

As an additional safety measure, road users travelling from Triq l-Imdina’s northbound carriageway to Ta’ Qali will now need to go round the Ta’ Srina roundabout rather than crossing the southbound lane and risking a collision with oncoming vehicles. This will eliminate the need for the traffic lights system, which will be switched off.   

Works to rebuild the 750-metre rural road at Tal-Hemsija included the reconstruction of boundary rubble walls, a new pavement, underground water and waste water pipelines, a storm water catchment system and a new asphalt road surface on reinforced foundations. The T-junction linking this new route to the arterial road between the Buqana and the Ta’ Srina roundabouts was upgraded with the construction of a new lay by, to facilitate a safer exit. New roadside direction signs were also installed at Triq L-Istadium Nazzjonali to guide road users to the new exit.    

Infrastructure Malta said it will soon continue improving the quality, safety and efficiency of the road network in this area through the Central Link Project, which extends from the Ta’ Srina roundabout to the traffic lights junction next to the Malta Financial Services Authority offices, at Mriehel. By upgrading this arterial road corridor, including parts of Birkirkara, Balzan, Attard and Ta’ Qali, this investment will resolve several existing difficulties, including inefficient junctions, high levels of vehicle emissions caused by congestion, major commute delays, increased vehicular traffic in nearby narrow residential streets and inadequate infrastructure for alternative modes of travel, including walking, cycling and public transport.

The Central Link Project will decrease travelling times by 50%, even when taking into consideration future demand. Vehicle emissions along the project route, including carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, volatile organic compounds and particulate matter, will be reduced by 63%, 13%, 67% and 16% respectively. At peak times, carbon dioxide emissions in the area will decrease by up to one tonne per hour.  

The project also introduces many facilities for alternative modes of travel, including ten kilometres of safe pedestrian footpaths, pedestrian and cycling underpass crossings, improved bus lay-bys, seven kilometres of segregated cycle tracks and shared bicycle priority lanes.