While the Central Link project will eat up 50,000 square metres of agricultural land, a third of the total area of the finished project will comprise of alternative travel infrastructure as well as landscaped areas, the infrastructure ministry says.
In fact, 62,000 square metres out of the total 180,000 square metre footprint will comprise of segregated cycling lanes, footpaths and landscaped areas that will serve as buffer zones between the road and nearby residences.
The €55 million project, aimed at alleviating traffic congestion, and which stretches from the Mriehel bypass to the foot of Saqqaja Hill, has received harsh criticism, with the main point of contempt being the uprooting of trees and the take-up of almost 49,000 square metres of agricultural land.
But the ministry says that the area that will comprise of cycling lanes, footpaths and landscaping will exceed the amount of additional land taken up by the project by 26%.
The entire project, when completed, will encompass around 180,000 square metres (including the additional 49,000sqm of virgin land that will be taken up). This will include the upgraded road infrastructure as well as alternative travel infrastructure and landscaping.
Figures provided by the ministry yesterday show that around 11,000 square metres of this total will comprise of segregated cycle tracks. This is the equivalent of 22% of the additional area that will be taken up by the project.
The project will also include 24,000 square metres of landscaped areas (49% of the additional take-up), and 27,000 square metres of footpaths (55% of additional land take-up).
An Infrastructure Malta official explained that this additional infrastructure will not necessarily be developed on the agricultural land that is being taken up but is rather incorporated along the project route.
The project would have required a smaller additional area if it did not include landscaping and cycling tracks, but both features are necessary, it was explained, both from a safety point of view and also from an environmental one.
The landscaped areas are being included as a buffer between the road and residences in the area, and will also include a number of trees, it was explained.
“The Central Link will not only be using 57% less land than that earmarked in the 2006 plans but as well instead of using it for a 4 vehicle lane bypass as planned 13 years ago, it will accommodate 2 vehicle lanes, new landscaped areas, pavements and the new segregated bi directional cycle track,” the ministry spokesperson said.
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat also defended the project yesterday. Speaking to journalists, Muscat said that the impression that big trees are going to be uprooted and that the Central Link project is going to leave a mess in its wake is mistaken.