The Transport Ministry is forging ahead with a €55 million project for a new bypass in Attard despite the regulator admitting a feasibility study into other options has not been finalised.
Known as the Central Link Project, the plan aims to alleviate traffic congestion around Attard with dual-lane carriageway on both sides – from the Mrieħel Bypass to the foot of Saqqajja Hill in Rabat.
Read: €55 million project to upgrade thoroughfare from Saqqajja Hill to Mrieħel Bypass
However, the development has come under fire, as it will mean the loss of agricultural land along a four-kilometre stretch, prompting concerns from the Environment Resources Authority.
Read: Proposed Attard bypass: Loss of ODZ land worries Environment Authority
Criticism was also levelled by Attard residents whose properties will be next to the new road. They questioned if the government had considered other solutions, including a tunnel.
However, Transport Minister Ian Borg two days ago insisted the design at the heart of the controversy was chosen on the strength of a study. Dr Borg was addressing a news conference announcing the issuing of tenders in connection with the project that will take two years to complete.
Yet, when asked on the discarded alternatives, Dr Borg told this newspaper he was not in a position to do so due to the “voluminous” nature of the study.
Nonetheless, he said the government would be willing to make the document available on request.
However, when the Times of Malta made a formal request it was turned down, despite the minister’s pledge a few hours before.
Transport Malta said the documents “are currently being discussed with the relevant authorities”.
Moreover, the spokesman pointed out that technical studies conducted as part of a cost benefit analysis had not been finalised.
“The final version will be available soon, as part of the established planning process to permit this development,” the spokesman said.
Furthermore, confirmation that the studies had not been finalised stemmed from the fact that the decision to discard other options to alleviate traffic was based on “preliminary findings”.
“Preliminary findings confirm that if this project is not implemented within a few years, travelling times through this route will increase by 250 per cent, while air pollution will rise by 300 per cent,” the spokesman said.
Transport Malta also said that the construction of a tunnel was deemed unfeasible, though no reason was given for such a conclusion.
If this project is not implemented within a few years, travelling times through this route will increase by 250 per cent
“A number of alternatives, including the widening of existing roads and the excavation of tunnels were also considered. While the widening of existing roads in the heart of Attard would have required extensive building expropriations and demolition, the excavation of tunnels was found to be unfeasible as well,” the spokesman said.
Apart from the study, the Times of Malta has been chasing the ministry since November to give an exact figure of the amount of agricultural land which will be lost.
In its reply, Transport Malta limited itself in saying that almost three-quarters of the project’s footprint would be within existing roads.
“The additional land required for the project includes areas designated for arterial roads since 2006, fields currently used for agricultural purposes, disturbed, unused sites and other areas not currently used for roads,” the spokesman said.
Transport Malta said additional land being expropriated for the new roads had been earmarked for such a purpose in 2006.
It said that thanks to the new design, the amount of agricultural land required was reduced by 21 per cent, compared to the previous plan.