Mdina Road widening

On March 4 the Malta Environment and Planning Authority approved the road widening project PA 5825/03 proposed by the Malta Transport Authority (ADT), involving a stretch of road from the De Rohan Arch to the Cortis Showroom, measuring about 800 metres.

The present road, when compared with the new roads being constructed, is already capable of handling present and future needs. So what, one may ask, is the reason of creating a dead-end service road where there is no need for it? The roads department ought to have addressed the traffic congestion at the De Rohan Arch junction, especially going in and out of Zebbug main entrance and the elimination of the bottleneck and accident-prone Cortis roundabout only as the rest of the road is just a straight drive!

The government should put to better use the finances placed at its disposal by the Italian protocol. This project is nothing but an exercise of how to waste good money on silly ideas. Acting like a drunk who begs all day and as soon as a donation is received goes immediately and spends it on a drink does not give the government any credibility about being careful of how money is spent.

With a little common sense and a fraction of the proposed cost, this stretch of road can be given a good facelift, manage the rainwater and organise better the flow of traffic by placing a few traffic wardens to educate drivers. This will surely result in a much better result, at a lower cost and in less time.

Due to the heavy traffic (according to official records, 23,000 drive along this stretch of road) consideration ought to be given to people who need to cross over to the other side. Traffic control lights will be of great help in reaching the other side of the road safely.

The minister responsible for roads is in duty bound to review this project for the benefit of all.