The closure of the Addolorata Hill – officially known as Santa Lucija Hill – has brought traffic chaos from the south of Malta towards the north.
Drivers are complaining of long traffic jams in Fgura, Tarxien, Paola, Santa Lucija and other localities in the vicinity as they tried to find alternative ways to move towards the north.
The northbound part of the Hill – the one leading from Santa Lucija to Marsa – has been closed “for several months” by Infrastructure Malta as excavation work starts for the construction of tunnels leading from the top of the hill to Tal-Barrani.
IM urged drivers to follow diversion signs to the alternative route through Hal Luqa Road (next to Chinese Garden of Serenity) and Giuseppe Garibaldi Road, towards Marsa. But this is apparently not working much as the situation has been almost completely blocked for the whole day.
The closure of the road started on Saturday, but it is today that it is being felt the most. Drivers who contacted The Malta Independent said the situation is unbearable today, which is not a school day as there are mid-term holidays. “It will be much worse on school days,” one of them said.