A number of trees have been uprooted, others transplanted, and an undisclosed area of agricultural land is being sacrificed in Tal-Balal for a new traffic lane to alleviate congestion.

The project, which is spearheaded by Infrastructure Malta, will improve the traffic flow between Naxxar, Għarghur, Iklin and San Ġwann. It will see new lanes, pavements and cycling-friendly infrastructure, and will improve the efficiency and safety of the roundabouts along the way.

According to a spokesman for Infrastructure Malta, the upgrade will see users travelling along Triq tal-Balal reduce their travel time by 30 to 40 per cent. This improvement will also lead to a decrease in the vehicle emissions caused by long queuing times.

The project extends from the roundabout at the northern end of the road linking Triq tal-Balal with Naxxar, Iklin and Triq Margaret Murray to and from Għarghur and all the way to San Ġwann. The road’s existing street lighting and vehicle restraint systems will also be upgraded.

Before: Trees and shrubs have already been uprooted or transplanted along Triq tal-Balal. ‘Before’ photos are from Google.

After

The spokesman said the project also included rebuilding Triq tal-Balal’s four roundabouts, new bypass lanes and improved junction designs.

The road upgrade will use the existing footprint by realigning and rebuilding the existing central strip. It will add space on the sides to make the new dual carriageway, and the roundabouts are to be safer and more efficient.

All features like rubble walls will be rebuilt along new edge of the carriageways

READ: Tal-Balal road works forge ahead, despite no PA permit

The additional space will come from disturbed land such as storage yards for industrial equipment and building supplies, manufacturing plants, paved areas leading to private properties, sites earmarked for development in the 2006 rationalisation scheme and agricultural land.

“All agricultural land features that need to be removed to accommodate the improved road alignment, such as rubble walls, will be rebuilt along the new edge of the carriageways. Any soil excavated from the area is being retained in the same fields, in agreement with the individuals who cultivate them.

“Seventeen roadside pine trees were transplanted to a new area a few metres away in the same field, where the road’s new retaining rubble walls will be built. A number of alien oleander shrubs along the road’s perimeter were uprooted. This invasive shrub species is not recommended for transplanting,” the spokesman said when asked how many trees had been cleared so far.

He insisted that the upgrade of Triq tal-Balal had been identified as an essential intervention that needed to be urgently implemented to reduce existing difficulties in commutes to and from nearby locations, including Mater Dei Hospital, the University of Malta and nearby commercial, industrial and residential zones such as Għargħur, Tat-Tarġa, Birguma, Madliena and Ibraġ.

He said the new roundabout designs would also reduce travelling times through several secondary roads in the area.

The project is expected to be completed by the time school reopens next month.

Before: Infrastructure Malta said the upgrade had been identified as an essential intervention to reduce the difficulty commuting to Mater Dei and the university.

After