Renzo Piano gap and other obstacles

“No gain without pain” is a hackneyed expression. Just as hackneyed if not more so is the term “time is money”. For all that both apply to the road works taken in hand by the authorities in an extensive and ambitious programme. The works, both in relation to streets in Valletta and Sliema, as well as in the four inter-urban roads that are to be reconstructed through 85 per cent European Union finance, will leave a strong mark on the face of Malta.

Not everybody is agreed on the street works. In Valletta, acceptance of Renzo Piano’s proposal to maim the walled character of Valletta by taking down and leaving it without a main gate has created a great deal of controversy. Nobody likes the existing City Gate.

It is ugly and resembles far too much similar structures built up during Mussolini’s reign in Italy. Few if anybody at all will lament that it will be no more. Yet, it contains a lesson. It was built notwithstanding public criticism of its Fascist design. The government of day ignored such criticism and ploughed on.

Now a government of the same ilk is going ahead with the Piano project, despite widespread criticism that a walled city should have gates, not gaps. Elsewhere, experts pointed out, fragments of old gates in destroyed walls are maintained treasured for the history and style they embody in them.

The government is once again ignoring widespread criticism. It remains to be seen by the younger generation whether history will repeat itself and a future government will decide that a walled city without a main gate is structural heresy. It will not take that long to assess the fact that the removal of City Gate without a replacement is fundamentally affecting access to Valletta.

Traffic experts, no doubt, have done their best to come up with workable alternative access and exit flows. Yet criticism of their plans already abound. The proof of that particular pudding will be in the eating. Another hackneyed term which might take fresh significance once Valletta traffic starts to try to flow without City Gate.

There is no doubt that under the shadow of the bastions from Valletta to Flagstone Wharf, Marsa, passing by the sea terminal, needs to be redone. It is one of the worst stretches in the whole of Malta, an affront to the locals and arriving cruise liners’ passengers who must use it. Work is to start soon. Once more planning does not seem to be forthcoming, for instance to take into account which road is used by trailers to feed the warehouses along the old Pinto Wharf.

There is also uncertainty about the effect on traffic of the final version of Bisazza Street, Sliema. It is rather remarkable that the authorities did not foresee that opinions among the business community would be divided. Some Bisazza Street shop-owners prefer a pedestrian street, with a lane for buses. Others want the pedestrian pre­cincts to exclude traffic completely. Still others do not want a pedestrian zone, whether pure or mixed.

Such is public opinion. At the end of the day it is the authorities who have to decide. There is no such division of opinion among residents, however, about the diversion of traffic through the streets of Qui-si-Sana. Those streets were not designed to take flows of heavy traffic. The one-way systems introduced at present have highlighted the difficulties involved in trying to route traffic through that area.

Whether the situation will be eased once the traffic flow can pass underneath The Point remains to be seen. But there is division of opinion in that regard too, with no final decision having been taken.

Aside from incorrect or loose ends in the planning process, there is apprehensive anticipation about the length of time these road works will take to execute. Some have been announced and they seem inordinately long.

All of the four road works mentioned will affect business while they are being done. Lost business is already being felt in Valletta and Bisazza Street establishments. Business lost will not be regained. The execution time, therefore, should be as short as possible, without undue haste making for bad workmanship.

With proper planning and the right use of equipment and material, there is no reason why the projects should not be executed up to a high standard and in good time. One hopes that the shortcomings identifiable in the planning stage will be corrected, other than in the case of the Renzo Piano Valletta Gap, which is irreversible. The outlook on present form is not encouraging.

Nevertheless strong focus and the ability to recognise where the critics are right should help matters along and minimise the cost to those who will suffer while the works are being done. If that is not the case, the remainder of 2011 and part of 2012 will see many small and large businesses suffer lost revenue which they will not be able to make up when the road works are finished.