Government accused of ‘steamrolling’ communities over Msida footbridge

A number of NGOs on Thursday slammed the government’s “cowardly attempt” to revive past plans of a controversial pedestrian bridge near the Kulleġġ bus stop in Msida as they called for consultation for a better pedestrian-focused solution.

On Wednesday, Times of Malta revealed the footbridge was approved by the Planning Authority despite concerns raised by the town’s local council and NGOs.

In a social media post on Thursday, Moviment Graffitti together with Friends of the Earth, cycling advocacy group Rota and Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar condemned the government’s “steamrolling of communities for a car-centric vision that puts pedestrian’s safety at risk”.

They urged the government to “work hand-in-hand” with the respective councils and communities to find solutions that would make pedestrians’ lives “easier, not worse”.

They slammed the lack of “meaningful consultation” with the public, local councils and residents, especially after both the local councils of Msida and Pietà had voted against the pedestrian bridge.

The original plans for the Msida Creek project, which were presented by Infrastructure Malta in 2020, included a flyover that would split the town in half. Various NGOS and residents had objected to the original plans these were subsequently modified.

One of the proposals that NGOs had objected to was that of a pedestrian bridge to replace the traffic lights near the Kulleġġ bus stop, arguing it would not only add “more visual clutter” to Msida creek, but would prioritise cars above all.

“Anyone wishing to simply cross the road would have to go up and down two flights of stairs, or try to use lifts that in other pedestrian bridges, rarely work. This makes crossing to the other side of the road, which currently takes less effort and time, more strenuous and time-consuming to pedestrians and cyclists. Crossing such a bridge, especially at night time can also pose safety concerns,” the NGOs pointed out.

The idea of a pedestrian bridge resurfaced in November last year when Transport Minister Chris Bonett said it was “proposed” by the Junior Collee student council.

Branding this proposal as “dangerous”, the NGOs pointed out that the government “resubmitted seven documents as ‘minor amendments’ to the existing plans, bypassing any need for evaluation or opportunity for public objection”.

Neither the local councils of Msida nor or Pieta’ were consulted in the process.

According to the plan submitted on February 24, the Triq Marina footbridge will be 6.3 metres high and appears to include an elevator.

The PA approved the amendments on April 6, subject to the same conditions as they original permits. There was no representation period during which the public could submit its objections.