Exacerbating traffic angst

Due to the umpteenth ‘development’ adventure, Tower Road, Sliema (former Regina site) has lost half the road, now taken over by construction for their vehicles’ access, reducing this narrow and busy section of road to one lane only.

Traffic lights have been installed on either side of the road, for traffic flow to alternate. The idea may be good but in practice it does not work, especially for the traffic heading towards the Ferries end of it. This new obstruction is further worsened by cars still being parked on the other side of the road, next to the Piazzetta side of shops on Tower Road.

As a result, if traffic stops as mandated by the traffic lights, there is still not enough space for the flow heading towards Fortizza to travel. Result: angry words, inevitable horn frenzy, etc. 

Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

All this mess is further ‘enhanced’ by the short distance between the newly installed traffic light (heading to Ferries) and the Qui-Si-Sana intersection, which is now frequently blocked. This part of Qui-Si-Sana is chaotic at the best of times, what with normal flow and cars pulling out of car parks with the food outlets and so on. Again, aggro galore!

If we must enjoy this new construction site for who knows how long, then the authorities should bite the bullet and have all of Tower Road, up to the Qui-Si-Sana seafront intersection, as a one way proposition, in the direction away from Ferries towards Fortizza. All other traffic should have no option but to take Qui-Si-Sana and the tunnel.

After all, Bisazza Street is supposedly closed to traffic. Those wishing to access the High Street or Union Club car parks can always drive up one of the Qui-Si-Sana streets and down Tigne Street to access the car parks. The minor inconvenience (hardly) would surely beat the hassle of accidents.

Anna Micallef – Sliema

From the online comments

Ex-Raffles disco to become food court, childcare centre

At least, it looks like it will be a positive development. Better than its present dilapidated state. – Mark Said

Better than being demolished, better than being used as a rubbish dump, better than being left to be used by drug addicts... These are not the right reasons for a development permit. – Jon Schembri

With all due respect, aħjar minn xejn is such a poor mentality. Why do we need yet more eateries? And how many trees are you seeing in that rendition? How many will be removed to make place for outdoor seating? – R. E. Saliba

So the Labour Party first stole the property from the people and is now making money off it by renting it, eh? I suppose that we, the people, are supposed to feel good about that? – J. Borg

No wonder the Labour Party has no financial difficulties as the PN has. It would be interesting for the Times to remind readers of the mechanics of the scandal that ensured this listed building ending up in the hands of the Labour Party and becoming another cash cow for Labour.

Labour in government always made sure the Labour Party got richer. This is a Grade 1 scandal. – R. Camilleri

So it’s not enough that Labour expropriated the każin in Naxxar, Lija, Sliema and several other towns as the constitutional court said. Raffles… a gift by PL to PL. Hope someone takes this up at EU level. – Mario Vella