An open space almost the size of St. George’s Square will become the new village square for Msida as part of significantly changed plans for the Msida junction which will be unveiled later this year.

Explained to The Malta Independent by Infrastructure Malta’s new CEO Ivan Falzon during an interview, the project – which had stoked controversy when it was first announced three years ago – will look quite different when compared to the initial plans.

The initial plans, first filed in 2019, included the building of two flyovers which would ensure the elimination of the junction’s traffic lights, the widening of existing roads, and the replacement of zebra crossings with footbridges.  An area was also earmarked for a 100-space car park and the embellishment of the open area of the Workers Memorial was also included in the project.

It was unveiled with a lot of pomp from then Infrastructure Minister Ian Borg, but was met with criticism from NGOs, residents, and even the locality’s local council who called on the government to rethink the plans.

200 Msida residents and various NGOs had in fact signed a letter asking authorities to rethink the project, stating that one of the only open spaces in the locality was going to be covered in tarmac.

These calls appear to have not fallen on deaf ears, with Infrastructure Malta CEO Ivan Falzon, appointed to head the authority in July, saying that he believes that the agency has found the “winning formula” for the project.

He said that the proposal seeks to address two points: Msida’s perennial flooding, and the lack of open spaces in the area.

A first draft of the plans seen by The Malta Independent shows that a seawater canal is being envisaged as part of the project with the hope that this alleviates the junction’s flooding problems.

However, more significantly, the project has been re-designed in such a manner to introduce more open spaces.

Falzon in fact said that 60% of the 44,000 square metre footprint of the junction will be open space, adding that a square almost the size of Valletta’s St. George’s Square will be created in front of the Msida church as part of the new plans.

The number of flyovers is also set to be reduced from two to one, while the pedestrian footbridges -  a particular source of consternation in the original plans – are set to be eliminated from the project as well.

The existing roads are still going to be redesigned, while an alternative mobility route will be included in the project as well.

“If you look at the project itself, when I went to the minister I said that I think we’re delivering an open space project rather than a roads project because 60% of it is open space,” Falzon said.

He credited Infrastructure Malta’s professional team for coming up with the plans despite the criticism which had been levelled their way in recent months.

He said that there still may be disagreement with the project, but noted that the agency must put itself into a position where it can take what it believes to be the best decision possible.

Falzon said that the feedback on the new plans from the stakeholders it had communicated with had been positive so far.

Interview with IM CEO can be seen here