Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects Ian Borg visited works which have just commenced in Triq Buqana, the main connection between Mtarfa, Mosta and Mġarr and among the main routes for those travelling to Gozo.
Minister Borg spoke about the necessity of this €3.6 million project which may be co-financed by European Funds. He explained how this road suffers from congestion both during morning and afternoon peak hours as well as during weekends and public holidays, with 18,000 vehicles passing through each day due to its importance in the Maltese road network. The Minister said that today this road suffers from this congestion as a result of inadequate design in the past that did not consider future needs this infrastructure might have. Because of this, both vehicles passing from the area as well as all those living in the area’s localities find it difficult to leave their villages because of traffic which accumulates.
“Government does not agree with single-lane policy in our arterial roads – this model does not work in the Maltese network and we are committed to correct as many of these mistakes as we can, towards infrastructure which is adequate in relation to the behaviour of traffic in our country,” said the Minister.
Apart from resurfacing the existing lanes in this road, the project will include the building of a new lane which starts from the Mtarfa side to later join the rest of the road as an additional lane, leading vehicles to travel with less difficulty. A new 1.8-kilometre cycle lane will be added together with this lane in the same direction, and there will be a system of cycle priority lanes both in the road as well as in the roundabout at the other end, i.e. in Mġarr and Mosta.
The two roundabouts at the ends of this road will be rebuilt with a new design towards improved safety and less congestion and, similarly to what was done in other projects, will include bypass lanes. One bypass lane will lead drivers from Triq Buqana to Triq Sir Temi Zammit in Mġarr without entering the roundabout, another will lead from this main road in Mġarr directly to Triq Żejfa in Mosta, i.e. the Żokrija area, and the third one will connect Triq San Pawl tal-Qliegħa in Mosta with Triq Buqana in the direction of Mtarfa.
Where necessary, at the side of the road, 1.8 kilometres of new rubble walls will also be built. The project also includes the rebuilding of the Wied il-Qlejgħa (Chadwick Lakes) bridge over which this road passes.
In upcoming phases, Infrastructure Malta will also be carrying out works beneath the road surface to replace and strengthen electrical, water, drainage and telecommunication distribution systems, through collaboration with the entities providing these services. New pipes and rain water catchment systems will also be included and include the building of a reservoir. Infrastructure Malta will also include new street light poles and a central strip with safety systems in case of accidents between the two carriageways.
The project was planned in several phases to limit the need of closing the road so that unnecessary inconveniences for residents and road users could be avoided. However, when a part of the road needs to be closed, there will be nearby alternative routes, and where necessary works will be carried out overnight.
“The project includes various aspects, because part of this Government’s vision is to work in a strategic way, and to consider not only what directly concerns us, but everything related to infrastructure. We are working to cater for and promote alternative means wherever possible and towards improved safety for all road users. We are planning in this way because success does not only depend on high quality resurfaced roads, but also on the quality of life of people, who are also our road users. These are people who spend a substantial part of their lives travelling from one point to another around our island, and we are committed to see that their journeys take less time, are safer and offer a more positive experience,” concluded Minister Borg.