Infrastructure Malta has announced that over the coming summer months, the agency shall be reorganising five traffic junctions - including the main Tarxien Junction and Tal-Barrani Junction - to "reorganise" traffic flows and reduce traffic congestion in village cores.
The present road layout in these areas is to remain the same.
This project, which will cost somewhere between €1.2 million and €1.3 million, hopes to improve the direct connections between the surrounding villages by introducing better traffic organisation in these areas. Another main aim of this project is to reduce the frequency of accidents in Tal-Barrani and Tarxien/Bulebel and boost road safety.
The affected areas include three junctions in Triq Tal-Barrani where traffic moves to and from Triq Ħal-Tarxien, Triq il-Gudja, and Triq Palma, as well as the junctions connecting Triq San Anard/Triq il-Gudja to Triq Ħal-Tarxien and Triq iż-Żejtun.
The deadline date for these works is 23 September, coinciding with the end of the summer period before students go back to school for the new scholastic year. These plans have and shall continue to be discussed amongst stakeholders, including local councils, to ensure that this timeline and this project's aims are respected, it was said.
The starting date of this project has not yet been officially confirmed, though Infrastructure Malta officials told this newsroom that the commencement date should be around 19 July.
Officials spoke to journalists in a briefing.
Officials said that "this will not be a massive project" and that the works involved will not include major changes to the present road infrastructure in these areas, such as road expansions.
"Most of the works will not result in the need for alternative routes in peak hours," officials said. Any new diversions, due to these roadworks, will be announced at a later date.
One of the main objectives of this project is to introduce an integrated traffic light system for "more effective traffic management." Officials said that once this project is completed, cars will only need to wait for one traffic flow to pass before it is their turn to drive again.
The Tarxien Junction by Triq San Anard was described by officials as "no man's land" for drivers in the present day. They stated that the area near Multi Packaging Limited today is an accident hotspot where drivers are required to check every direction to ensure that they can continue driving on slowly when passing through the junction and alternate traffic flows.
Officials added that while many accidents in these areas do not usually result in grievous injuries, they often aggravate traffic congestion in these areas.
Envisioned routes - what traffic flows should look like
Vehicles driving towards Triq Tal-Barrani from Tarxien to go to either direction of Birzebbugia or Valletta will still pass through Triq Palma.
Vehicles exiting Tarxien and heading in the direction towards Fgura/Żabbar/Żejtun will no longer be impeded by traffic lights. With the removal of the existing traffic lights, another lane shall be added in this direction, increasing the number of dedicated lanes in this direction from the present two to three.
Access is to be reopened for vehicles commuting from the whereabouts of Birzebbugia/Żejtun towards Ħal-Tarxien via Triq il-Gudja. The exit from this junction towards Birzebbugia is to remain as is.
Automobiles travelling from Fgura/Żabbar to Santa Luċija/Valletta will be directed to pass through Triq Ħal-Tarxien, towards Triq tal-Ħotba, and Triq il-Barrani, Żejtun.