PA quietly greenlights Msida pedestrian bridge
Bridge has been criticised by local councils and NGOs
The Planning Authority has approved the construction of a pedestrian bridge in Msida, despite concerns raised by the town’s local council and NGOs.
The bridge will link the two Kulleġġ bus stops at on Triq Marina, replacing the existing pelican crossing, which is heavily used by Junior College students.
On February 24, plans for the footbridge were submitted, together with other ‘minor amendments’ to the Msida Creek Project, including those related to sound barriers, a bus stop and a separate pedestrian bridge that will cross a canal that will be built as part of the project. According to the plans, the Triq Marina footbridge will be 6.3 metres high, and appears to include an elevator.
The design of the bridge as submitted to the Planning Authority.On April 6, the PA approved the amendments, subject to the same conditions as the original permissions. There was no representation period during which the public could submit its objections.
The footbridge was in the Msida Creek Project’s original plans that were submitted in 2020, but was eventually dropped by Infrastructure Malta after being criticised by both Msida and Pietà local councils, as well as NGOs, the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage and the Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee.
It was then revived in 2025, when Transport Minister Chris Bonett announced the government would be implementing an idea proposed by the Junior College student council to build a pedestrian bridge linking the two bus stops.
Once again, the plans faced resistance – the Msida local council said it was left completely in the dark, adding it could not accept that residents are not consulted on a development of this nature, especially as it was revealed overnight.
A coalition of NGOs made up of Moviment Graffitti, Friends of the Earth and cycling advocacy group Rota pointed out there was a “glaring lack of transparency” on why the bridge was being proposed “without consultation, and was imposed on the communities, after it had been shot down six years ago”.
They insisted the “obvious” alternative to a bridge is a level crossing with pelican lights which would help move large numbers of people at a time.