The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) yesterday approved an application by the Malta Transport Authority (ADT) for the reconstruction of Manwel Dimech Bridge which runs over Wied Ghomor Valley in St Julian’s.
However there is still no date when the project is expected to begin although ADT officials confirmed that the work is expected to last approximately a year at a cost of Lm1.8 million. The MEPA Directorate also confirmed that no waste management or construction management plans have been received as yet.
At first the process to assess the application seemed to move ahead with no major problems encountered, however Prof. Samar, from the ADT, objected to a condition where a bank guarantee of Lm30,000 was to be imposed by the developer.
MEPA chairman Andrew Calleja explained that the sensitivity of the project and the possibility of damage to the ecologically sensitive Wied Ghomor justified the amount of the guarantee which might not even be enough to finance rehabilitation of the area if a disaster occurred.
The project description statement for the project consists of the following steps:
The erection of scaffolding; the demolition of the superstructures; the rehabilitation of the piers and abutments; the reconstruction of the superstructures; the relaying of the road; the installation of street furniture; the rehabilitation of the valley.
The directorate explained that based on the need to retain this route open to traffic, it is proposed that the east bridge is demolished, constructed and put back into full service before the west bridge is taken down. Work on both piers is expected to be carried out at the same time.
When Mr Calleja asked if one side of the bridge was expected to take all the flow of traffic during construction works, ADT officials said that a vehicular management plan was to be put in place from St Paul’s Bay to Marsa to ensure that the least amount of traffic is to pass from the bridge.
Additional conditions are also being added to ensure that dust emissions remain at minimal levels since residential areas are in the vicinity of the bridge.
The project was approved with seven vote in favour and one vote against.
Earlier in the hearing, the MEPA board also approved the demolition of the old Mistra Village complex in Xemxija which will make way for a new development of luxury apartments. An old flour mill constructed by the British in the 1950s on this site has been earmarked for conservation.