Infrastructure Malta has revealed plans to erect two imposing flyovers in the heart of Msida. When realised, this major project will see the elimination of the existing traffic lights junction, therefore allegedly, alleviating traffic congestion and improving air quality. Unfortunately, this would also imply the elimination of any chance of Msida’s town centre ever belonging to its community.
While no official application with the Planning Authority seems to have been submitted as of yet (the access to this information being unavailable) and no environmental impact studies illustrating the true implications of the project have been presented, once again Infrastructure Malta seems to be forging ahead with a mega-project without due checks and balances.
The construction of the two flyovers as depicted would require building over the land presently housing the Msida Bocci Club. In addition the 100 new parking spaces proposed as part of the project would imply a further take up of open space.
The development will also include two pedestrian bridges which in truth are an inconvenience for their intended users. The pedestrians and cyclists crossing these junctions daily are forced to make this divergence so that cars can zip through at faster speeds - effectively transforming Msida’s town centre into a highway.
None of the visuals provided by Infrastructure Malta show the development from street level, depicting its visual impact as experienced by commuters. What the visuals do include is greenery of existing trees that will in fact be devastated through the implementation of the project.
Two flyovers in the heart of Msida is not only a bad example of urban planning at face value but in fact goes against all applicable policies intended to guide such projects.
The North Harbour Local Plan (2006) highlights the need to upgrade the area, with the main reasons for its ‘very poor environment’ being ‘due to the segregation of existing public spaces and the impact of the considerable volume of traffic that passes through it’. The policy goes on to acknowledge the great economic potential and social value of the Msida Creek and Palm Square area, stating that, ‘The location is important because it is a focus for community activity, it is a local shopping centre, and it acts as a major public transport interchange point’.
Instead of proposing its further fragmentation through the inclusion of a highway cutting through its core the policy recommends the very opposite: ‘The main urban design objective for the whole area is the creation of a single, large public space possibly adjacent to Msida Creek’. This can, amongst other measures, be achieved by significantly improving ‘the pedestrian environment by widening footways and providing safe and convenient pedestrian crossings both to upgraded public areas and across main roads’.
By increasing the number of vehicles passing through Msida centre, now spread over two levels, and having more land committed to car-use, the project also contradicts the National Transport Strategy [NTS] 2025, affected by the present administration in 2016. Under the NTS 2025 the aim is to ‘Provide alternatives to private vehicles to encourage sustainable travel patterns’ and ‘Reduce the impact (social, environmental and economic) of vehicles in urban areas’.
The NTS 2025 goes on to note that, ‘High volumes of traffic passing through urban areas can often sever communities, physically segregating residents from basic amenities and community services’. The document also acknowledges that ‘A significant proportion of urban streets and public space in urban areas in Malta and Gozo is allocated to motor vehicles. Not only does this have a negative visual impact but it also impacts safety and the liveability of streets’.
The measures imposed by the NTS 2025 to resolve these major issues, many of which correspond with those of the Local Plan, include: creating a balanced space allocation for alternative modes such as walking and cycling, reducing vehicle speeds, reducing the visual impact of vehicles and ensuring the appropriate provision and use of trees and soft landscaping to enhance urban environments and improve the environmental quality of transport corridors.
From the above alone it is clear that the project goes diametrically against what was set out in the National Transport Strategy (2016), as well as the Local Plans (2006).
Despite this the flyovers were announced as something that will happen - not a proposal or a possible solution but a done deal. What about its impact on the community? What about adherence to our transport strategies and plans? Who decided that this is the only solution?
This project will in no way serve to reinvigorate Msida, instead, it will actually deter any future attempts at its regeneration.
Tara Cassar is an architect focusing on planning policies and environmental issues related to land-use, active with a number of local eNGOs