One year after the work started – and two months after it should have been completed – the highly controversial reconstruction project of Manwel Dimech bridge has reached its halfway mark with the east side finally reopened to traffic yesterday morning.

Traffic is currently using both sides of the bridge but the west side will be closed for demolition to start on the carriageway leading from Kappara to Paceville.

The project has been at the centre of a controversy – not only because of the delayed works.

In a press conference held on Monday, the GRTU, Chamber for Small and Medium Enterprises, said that businesses have suffered loss of custom because people have been avoiding the area, while the bridge works – which were supposed to have been completed in September – are ongoing.

The GRTU called for the old and still usable carriageway to be left open temporarily and remain in use along with the newly completed carriageway over the holiday period.

However, when they found that this was not to be, they called the decision taken by Roads and Urban Development Minister Jesmond Mugliett “wrong and arrogant.”

During a press conference on Monday, the GRTU announced that Minister Mugliett had invited them for a meeting to be held this morning at 11.

During a technical visit organised for the press recently, project architect Malcolm Gingell said that the western viaduct was in a worse state in comparison with the eastern viaduct.

However, he added, “we know what to expect now so there shouldn’t be any unforeseen circumstances. However there is always the risk element and this project has been a big challenge for the whole consortium.”

Work started in mid-November last year and was first estimated to be completed last September. The new March deadline means in effect there is going to be a six-month delay.

As from today, traffic from Kappara going towards St Julian’s will, upon exiting the tunnel, be diverted to the eastern viaduct (the carriageway in the direction of Valletta), while traffic from St Andrews will proceed along the same carriageway. Two-way traffic will flow along the newly constructed deck in single file.