Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects Ian Borg together with CEO of Infrastructure Malta, Fredrick Azzopardi and other officials from the agency, visited a new grove that connects Valley Road, Msida to Regional Road in the same locality.
Minister Borg said how more than one year ago, they had visited the same site from where the Regional Road project had been announced. He spoke about how this project resulted in an upgraded and safer arterial road that was already being enjoyed by several road users that use this artery on a daily basis. Minister Borg spoke of how the site where Infrastructure Malta developed the grove was previously a slip road that led from Valley Road to Regional Road, which however was rarely used. “And therefore, as we are doing with each project, we did not look only at the needs of the road users, but we analysed how we can continue building on the project so as to reach more objectives and maximised the investment implemented. Today, the urban locality of Msida and the residents of this locality are benefiting from a new green space with the planting of 459 indigenous trees that are complementing some pre-existing holm oaks in an adjacent landscaped area, which will now form part of the same grove”, said Minister Borg.
He said how more than 2,000 tonnes of soil were placed in this area, which soil had been removed during the implementation of other road projects. He made reference to the investment in crash barriers that was also carried out along a part of Valley Road, Msida. This investment will ensure that cars will no longer park on the roots of trees that have been in this area for ages and therefore this intervention will ensure the protection of these trees, whilst the cleaning of the soakaway reservoir that stores rainwater next to these trees will also help to conserve them as part of the Msida Valley Tree Protection Area.
Minister Borg said Infrastructure Malta, during the year 2019, planted more than 8,710 trees in 40 localities and the same agency remains committed to take care of these trees for several years. “The sheer number of trees that we planted in 2019 was not a one-off project. In fact, Infrastructure Malta is planning to continue planting many more trees in 2020 and beyond. This effort is an ongoing commitment. Because the objective of the government is not only to deliver infrastructural projects on our roads but we want to deliver also more open spaces to our communities, we want to create new green lungs in urban centres, for a better air quality, for a better quality of life”, concluded Minister Borg.
Commenting on this project, Fredrick Azzopardi, Infrastructure Malta’s CEO, explained that this new green area shows how Infrastructure Malta’s road planners are doing their utmost to render Malta’s public infrastructure more sustainable. “Our road upgrade projects are creating safer, more comfortable spaces for all road users and residents, not just for car drivers. By tackling congestion and improving road safety, we are also reducing noise and air pollution and other difficulties that impinge on quality of life in our localities. Last year, a scientific analysis of our major road investments, such as the Marsa Junction Project and the Central Link Project, confirmed that they will be reducing 62,000 tonnes of vehicle carbon dioxide emissions every year.”
Fredrick Azzopardi added that “through our unprecedented tree-planting programme we are building on these air quality improvements with the creation of many new green lungs in our communities. During the first month of 2020 we already planted circa 1,000 new trees in Birkirkara, Balzan, Luqa, Qrendi, Rabat, Naxxar and Marsaskala. We are liaising with local councils and other organisations to start planting more trees in other localities in the coming months. Last year Infrastructure Malta planted 8,719 trees, probably exceeding the total number of trees planted in public spaces by all other organisations put together. This year we are working to exceed this figure with even more trees in many other areas.”
Individuals or organisations who would like to suggest public spaces that Infrastructure Malta’s arborists can consider for the planting of new trees are encouraged to send their ideas by email on [email protected].