Over 1,000 signatures have been collected in support of the controversial €55-million Central Link project meant to alleviate traffic congestion in Attard village core.

Spearheaded by the Malta Automobile Club, the campaign was launched in reaction to hundreds of objections being submitted to the Planning Authority as part of a campaign by the Attard Residents Environmental Network.

Residents insisted the project, which stretches from the Mrieħel bypass to the foot of Saqqajja Hill on the outskirts of Rabat, would attract even more traffic.

However, their main objection revolved around the proposal to construct a bypass adjacent to their properties, which, they say, would split the village in two and bring more emissions closer to their properties.

650 Attard residents have objected to the project, the Times of Malta reported earlier this week. More than 800 objections had been submitted to the PA as part of the mandatory public consultation process by the time of writing.

Read: Attard council comes out against Central Link project

On the other hand, the automobile club is foursquare behind the project saying it is a perfect example of road construction and improvements.

Echoing the same arguments being made by the Transport Ministry, its petition says the road had been in the pipeline since 2006. Given the rapid increase in traffic it cannot wait any longer to be implemented, the club says.

While noting that residents in the village core have being subjected to toxic fumes for many years, the petition notes that, once completed, the project would cut emissions by 13 per cent and reduce travelling time through Attard by half.

Moreover, the needs of pedestrians, cyclists and other road users were being taken into consideration in the project, the automobile club notes.

Read: Central Link: the best solution - Fredrick Azzopardi

Residents of Triq in-Nutar Zarb are backing the project.

“After so many years, something is finally being done to address the traffic congestion in our road which is a huge source of pollution,” one resident remarked.

“The situation has become unbearable and I look forward to the day when we can live quietly without fear of toxic emissions reaching our houses each time we open doors and windows.”