A change in the proposals for traffic management in the area currently undergoing embellishment works in St Paul’s Bay, which has made Triq it-Torri the only road in the area leading to the main road, has irked some residents, The Malta Independent has learnt.

All the residents of the street and those in the immediate area have signed a petition, which is to be presented to the Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, Infrastructure Minister Austin Gatt and Rural Affairs Minister George Pullicino.

It will also be presented to Tourism Parliamentary Secretary Mario de Marco, the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, Transport Malta, Malta Tourism Authority and to local MP Michael Gonzi.

According to the proposals for traffic management after the embellishment works, the road starting from just below Wignacourt Tower, up to past the Sirens waterpolo pitch, is to be one way, with only two exits leading on to the main road.

These two exits were meant to be Triq Isouard and Triq it-Torri; however following complaints by some individuals this was changed. Triq Isouard is now to be a one-way road, in the opposite direction.

The residents have expressed their annoyance at the fact that due to complaints, approved plans were altered, with no consideration for how this would affect them.

The residents are asking what will happen in the case of an emergency, if at the same time there is an accident at the waterpolo pitch for example, and the only road is blocked by the garbage van or by a gas distributor.

The embellishment project has also meant the loss of around 100-150 parking places, which saw the extension of wide pavements and narrower roads. The residents are predicting that this will result in complete chaos, when visitors descend on the area, as they usually do in summer.

Last week The Malta Independent reported MHRA President George Micallef who said that the works in the area, although obviously improving the area, were ‘taking far too long’.

He said it was not just a question of sticking to the dates, but of better planning to minimise inconvenience to people in the area, including residents and tourists.

The embellishment project, which is to cost €1.6 million and is co-financed by the EU, stretches for a kilometre, from the government school past the landmark Wignacourt tower and on to the Gillieru restaurant.

The work started some time after Christmas, “during the off-peak tourism season” and was expected to be completed by June, Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism Mario de Marco had announced at the time.

Mr Micallef said that it was only a pity that such a project was marred by such delays and there was no site management to minimise inconvenience.

The Malta Tourism Authority said that the project, like all others, had encountered its fair share of problems and had to adjust a number of issues that were encountered during the works and other issues raised by residents and local operators.

However, it said that the main works causing the inconvenience would be completed by June. Unforeseen issues included the excavation of a trench and reinstatement to allow for the removal of overhead electricity lines and poles and transferring the electrical supply underground. The MTA said some of these issues only became apparent once excavations started.

“This does not mean that the Project Management team has not been following the contractor and chasing him to deliver his commitments on-site and, in fact, the necessary and allowable contractual steps were taken and are still being taken to ensure that the project is completed as soon as possible to reduce the inconvenience to residents as far as possible,” a spokesman said.

It said it understands that the implementation of projects causes inconvenience; however, it is felt that this project will provide an attractive continuation of the existing 3km of promenade and make attractions like the Wignacourt Tower and Qala tal-Għażżenin more accessible.