PN slams government over flooded Msida flyover

The PN on Wednesday said the government had let people down when it comes to the new Msida flyover, after the motorway was flooded twice in three days, forcing drivers to reverse all the way down.

In a statement, the PN said that a video circulating on social media on January 17 showed a line of cars reversing along the flyover carriageway heading towards Valletta. New footage surfaced on Tuesday showing a similar situation.

"When the PN and the Msida Local Council appealed to the government to first resolve other existing problems – including the skatepark bottleneck and the flooding issue – before continuing with the construction of the flyover, the government refused to listen and proceeded as it saw fit.

"It is clear that, even in this project, there was no serious planning. Had things been done properly, we would not be seeing lines of vehicles reversing off a brand-new flyover," the party said. 

Had the government wanted to safeguard drivers' safety, it should have ensured that the carriageway "functions properly in all conditions, rain or shine" before it was opened to commuters.

The opening ceremony of the flyover has already taken place, and one would assume this meant the flyover should be usable without restrictions and in all weather conditions, PN's Toni Bezzina and Bernard Grech noted. 

The party called on Transport Minister Chris Bonett to ensure that the situation did not repeat itself and to guarantee the safety of drivers using the Msida flyover even during rainfall.

Labour: PN is using the storm for political ends

In a reaction, the Labour Party accused the PN of using the extraordinary storm for political ends. 

It pointed out that the Msida project is not ready yet, adding that on completion it would make a significant difference to people's lives.  

The only consistency in the PN was its resorting to political convenience, the PL said.