Prime Minister Robert Abela has officially inaugurated the flyover forming part of the €35 million Msida Creek infrastructure project. The carriageway opened to traffic at midnight.

On Wednesday morning, Abela addressed a press conference on the inauguration of the flyover, which marks an important milestone towards the completion of this infrastructure project, continuing to modernise one of the most strategic areas within the country's road network.

Commuters coming from Pieta' can now take the flyover to direction of the Msida skatepark. On the other side, commuters coming from the skatepark can now directly connect to the Pieta' waterfront, direction Valletta.

During the inauguration, Abela said that thanks to the strong commitment and determination with which the project was carried out, a significant milestone has now been reached.

Abela said that Malta "cannot afford to say no" to major infrastructure projects of this scale.

He explained that during the design stage, the government had the choice of limiting the project to traffic management alone, or expanding it to include new and accessible open spaces for the community.

"We chose a project that goes beyond traffic flow and gives Msida residents a proper public square and open spaces that every community deserves," Abela said.

He said that this is a major €35 million project, fully financed through public funds.

Abela said that the country's economic strength allows for infrastructure investments of this scale.

He referred to recent conclusions by the International Monetary Fund, which confirmed only days ago that Malta has a resilient, dynamic and remarkable economy.

"This flyover is a high-quality project, built by Maltese workers for Maltese people. The 270 tonnes of steel forming this structure were designed and manufactured locally, providing clear proof of the skills, innovation and capacity of Malta's industry," Abela said.

He said that not only has modern infrastructure been created, but the local industry has also received a strong boost.

The Prime Minister also spoke of the "exceptional efficiency" with which the flyover was completed, as this key milestone was reached in less than a year from the start of works, with minimal inconvenience to residents and activity in the area.

He said that much of the work was carried out at night or during weekends.

"In the next phase of the project, led by Infrastructure Malta, Msida will benefit from a new public square, more open spaces for families, safer roads and pathways for pedestrians and cyclists, as well as a modern services system that addresses the flooding problem in the area," Abela said.

He continued that by the end of the project, a future-proof infrastructure investment would be delivered, significantly modernising and improving the area.

Abela said that the project is another example of what can be achieved when the country comes together and works with determination.

"This flyover is not just steel and concrete, but proof that what the people dream of, can be implemented," Abela said.

The Prime Minister said the project's planning phase included public consultations with local communities under the leadership of previous Infrastructure Malta CEO Ivan Falzon.

He said that while the Opposition initially supported the project before later opposing it, the government remained committed to seeing it through to completion.

Abela also welcomed the fact that the project was awarded to a consortium of Maltese contractors, noting that local companies, supported by entities such as Malta Enterprise, invested in developing the necessary capacity.

He added that all the steel used in the flyover structure was manufactured in Malta.

Bonett said the project was completed ahead of schedule, crediting the project management team at Infrastructure Malta and the synergy between public institutions and the private sector. He singled out Infrastructure Malta CEO Steve Ellul and government communications officials for their role in coordinating works and public information.

Abela described the project as Malta's "flagship infrastructure development," which will serve as a template for future large-scale investments, combining traffic efficiency with community spaces and environmental considerations.

Transport Minister Chris Bonett said that the project was planned and implemented in several phases, with extensive preparatory work carried out beforehand to minimise the impact on road users and nearby residents.

"Even before works started, we placed strong emphasis on communication with the public, with any route changes being announced weeks in advance so that people could plan their journeys better," Bonett said.

Bonett said that the flyover is the fourth major infrastructure project completed in the past 12 years and that while it is a significant and highly visible structure, it does not represent either the end or the core of the project.

Instead, he said, it serves as a crucial foundation that will allow the next phases of the Msida Creek development to move forward.

Bonett said that the project aims to address long-standing issues in Msida, a locality that has for years been physically divided in two.

He said the project seeks to restore the heart of the town by removing traffic from ground level and creating a new public square and environmental project beneath the flyover, reconnecting the community.

He added that following the inauguration of the bridge connecting the Msida and Pietà waterfronts a few weeks ago, the flyover will also be open to traffic from tomorrow.

"While these structures are visibly large and central to the project, the full benefits of the works will become even clearer in the coming phases," Bonett said.

He said that through the creation of a new 300-metre channel, flooding in the area will be mitigated, while a new open space at the heart of the community that reconnects the two sides of Msida will also be created.