The Ministry for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects said today that Infrastructure Malta has concluded the upgrade of Ħaż-Żebbuġ’s two main roundabouts and the arterial road between them, Triq l-Imdina.
This €0.5 million investment comprised the redesign and rebuilding of the two main roundabouts in this locality—the one near De Rohan Gate and the one near St Dorothy’s School—as well as the widening and improved design of the road between them.
The project was completed in slightly less than two months and resulted not only in improved efficiency and safety, but also in more facilities for alternative means of transportation. Promoting respect on the road and multimodality, this project also introduced several cycling-friendly concepts in Malta.
Besides the use of sharrows to warn motorists and cyclists that one of Mdina Road’s two southbound lanes and the adjacent service road in the northbound direction are now designated as a shared lane for both road users, this project also includes other new cycling-friendly developments. The pelican pedestrian crossings along this road were redesigned to include advance stop lines for cyclists. These markings, including a shaded green area reserved for cyclists along the sides of the crossing, ensure that cyclists have the necessary space to safely stop and wait for pedestrians to cross the road.
They also give them priority to continue their journey ahead of vehicles travelling in the same direction, as soon as the lights turn green. Additionally, the upgrading of the roundabout next to St Dorothy’s School will be introducing an appropriate cycle lane system to help cyclists safely ride round this junction. These designs are being implemented as a pilot project for the eventual development of increased cycling-friendly facilities in other roundabout junctions of the Maltese road network.
All these developments were discussed with representatives of the cycling community during several consultation meetings held before the project was implemented.
The De Rohan Gate roundabout was given a new design as well as more approach lanes for safer and more efficient exits from the roads connected to it, while the other roundabout was reduced in size by means of a new design and was given dedicated lanes, known as bypass lanes, with the aim of increasing safety and decreasing congestion. At the same time, these arrangements are leading to safer exits with less waiting time for residents entering and exiting Ħaż-Żebbuġ centre from Vjal il-Ħelsien, its main access road. The arterial road linking the two roundabouts—Triq l-Imdina—was also widened to introduce a new southbound lane.
Commenting on this development, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects Ian Borg said that, “we can see the end of another project which is mitigating a situation where we had two bottlenecks that were putting pressure, both on the village of Ħaż-Żebbuġ, as well as on the roads connecting to it. The people have spent too many years suffering in unnecessary traffic because of inaction by prior administrations. That time has passed, and I look forward with determination to more hard work that will be benefitting the Maltese and Gozitan people, and which will give our country the road infrastructure it deserves”.