Infrastructure Malta will complete the Spinola junction project next week, when the junction will be closed at night to lay the topmost asphalt layer across the entire junction, a spokesperson for the government agency said.

The busy junction next to Love Sign installation has been undergoing a complete revamp after it was decided that the pre-existing layout of this junction was not only causing unnecessary travel time delays, but is also a major accident risk due to several unsafe road crossings.

Parts of the junction are being closed during the day this week between 7am and 6pm so that the old road surface can be removed and replaced with new foundation and asphalt layers, whilst the junction will be closed at night next week to lay the topmost asphalt layer across the entire junction.

This upgrade by Infrastructure Malta, the spokesperson explained, will increase the capacity and efficiently at this intersection to reduce travel times to and from different nearby residential and entertainment areas, including St Julian's, Paceville and Sliema - and also forms part of the extensive and long-term Pembroke-St Julian's Connections project.

Several underground network upgrades requested by the utilities and improvements to the area's storm water systems are also being done through this project. Safer bus laybys for easier access to the public transport service are also included, whilst existing roadside parking spaces will also be re-organised with safer access.

The project was not without its hiccups as the St Julian's council had also revealed their own plans.

The Mayor of the time, Guido Dalli, had told The Malta Independent that the council held a meeting with the public where they presented their plans, and that the project would have utilised funds received from planning gains paid by a number of developers for developments in the locality.

Infrastructure Malta, however, scrapped the plans in favour of their own, as it was decided the council's plans would have created more traffic and congestion, a spokesperson had said at the time.

A spokesperson had added that the local council had long been aware of Infrastructure Malta's plans, and it failed to inform the agency about its proposals before its plans were presented to the Planning Authority.

Speaking with this newspaper, current St Julian's Mayor Albert Buttigieg said that the aforementioned issue "is water under the bridge" and that it is in everyone's best interest to see this work.

Buttigieg explained that a meeting will be held in the coming weeks where they will be giving feedback on the project.