The Partit Demokratiku today called for more changes to be made to the plans for a central link which is aimed to divert traffic away from the centre of Attard.

PA has a choice to make, both of which will need the Infrastructure Agency to go back to the drawing board, PD said in a statement.

Keep up the plans as forwarded by the agency but make the proposed principal streets liveable.

Or

Scrap the proposed plans and go for a proper elevated bypass that does not disturb agricultural land and avoids the risk of polluting residential areas.

The present proposal falls short on two objectives, other than the undesired loss of prime natural resources

1)     Pedestrian subway crossings. 

Pedestrian bridge crossing uglify the urban area and are not accessible to persons with special needs. The village of Attard must retain its community homogeneity.

(The pedestrian bridge at Mriehel is unwieldy and with a non-functioning lift as an example of what looks good on paper but which may not necessarily function in practice. Moreover, unless time and effort are invested in upkeep, it becomes dingy and shabby before too long.)

PD notes that in this regard no clear and specific plans have been submitted to PA before works on the road starts. There seems to be a proposal for the building of a monstrous bridge near Corinthia junction. This is irrational from an urban planning point of view.

2)     Cyclist lanes

These should be a top most priority for tomorrow’s road network. The latest plans consist of 6 scattered bike passages disconnected or poorly connected with each other, and not on the side where people actually live. This is unthinkable.

Partit Demokratiku notes that the Infrastructure Agency has listened to the public outcry and has altered its plans several times. More adjustments are requested.

PD emphasized that road building must move away from accommodating cars to seeing to personal mobility.