Msida feast discord benefits motorists

Thousands of motorists will heave a sigh of relief next weekend because it has now been established that the main arterial roads leading to Msida would not be closed to traffic for the feast of St Joseph.

And it's all thanks to a disagreement between the Msida parish and the fireworks organisers, which has led to the cancellation of fireworks at this year's feast, according to the police.

For the past years, the Msida feast had caused traffic bedlam with frustrated motorists having no choice but to endure long tailbacks of traffic as roads were closed until fireworks were let off.

The police decision on previous occasions to close off the main arteries - the Sta Venera bypass and the Regional Road - was even condemned by the Malta Transport Authority last year, which said that no permission had been granted to close off the roads.

The ADT had said that adequate and alternative locations for the letting off of fireworks should have been identified in the interest and safety of the public.

The problem reached boiling point last year as hundreds of drivers were forced to switch off their car's engines for anything between one and two hours waiting at the side of the Regional Road until the fireworks display came to an end.

The diversions caused major disruptions especially since the feast of St Joseph always coincides with the annual Malta Jazz Festival, which draws thousands to Ta' Liesse, in Valletta.

This year's feast will still cause some traffic disruptions but these would be solely restricted to band marches, the police said.