Residents in Pieta are insisting that the new bus lane stretching along the seafront will not be safe enough, and an accident is bound to happen.
The service lane along the strand in Msida is being embellished and converted into a bus lane, in order to reduce traffic. Any buses going through Msida will shift to the bus lane, allowing for shorter journey times.
Buses would be passing only metres away from residencies and shop entrances. However, residents are mostly concerned about the fact that the road has now been transformed into 'one big pavement', with the bus lane and pavement at the same level, with no indication of where one starts and the other ends.
In comments to this newspaper, Michael Seychell, a resident in the area, said he is not against the project per se, however the planning design has changed from the initial plan. "The bus lane shouldn't be at the same level of the pavement. Should a bus driver swerve slightly to the side, someone could easily be injured. A number of elderly residents live in this area"
Mr Seychell added that residents who own car garages in the road would need to go out through the bus lane, as there is no alternative route.
A number of shop owners also expressed their concern about the new project. "This is an incident waiting to happen. The bus lane seems to continue over the pavement, and someone is going to get hurt. This area is already known for accidents as it is. What does it take for the bus to swerve slightly, injure someone walking by, or crash into the shop's facade?" Another shop owner noted that the project lacks the required infrastructure to avoid flooding during heavy rains.
Residents of the area noted that workers in the area have been very considerate towards them, and it is the design of the plan that they are worried about.
A speed limit of 30km would be imposed on the area.
The project has been planned for a while, and prior to the election, residents were told it would be dropped. However last February, they were told the project would proceed.