Upgrade for underground pedestrian crossings

The network infrastructure directorate of the Public Transport Authority (ADT) is in the process of upgrading underground pedestrian crossings.

A spokesman for ADT said works are currently in hand at the underground crossing situated in St Anne Street, Floriana while upgrading works on the underground crossing in National Road, near Portes des Bombes, will be carried out shortly following the completion of the works at the St Anne Street crossing.

The upgrading of the underground passageway in Blata l-Bajda seems to be the only solution to avoid the real danger to pedestrians attempting to cross that busy road.

Crossing the multiple lanes, taking traffic in different directions, from the bus stop for buses going towards Valletta to the other bus stop for buses proceeding towards Marsa was a very dangerous feat, at times resulting in fatalities or serious injury. The underground crossing does not help much, at least in its present state. It has needed a facelift for many years and many simply even dread the thought of going down there. It was the spot where a woman was sexually assaulted not too long ago.

A woman, who was in the process of crossing the road, was asked by The Times why she preferred to risk her life rather than use the subway and promptly replied that using the subway did not even cross her mind.

Another person who was about to cross the road said the subway should be well lit, properly maintained and possibly be supervised by a warden. Only then, he said, would he consider using it. Earlier this month, Magistrate Giovanni Grixti called on the authorities concerned to take note of the serious situation in Blata l-Bajda where, due to the lack of facilities, pedestrians who wanted to cross the road were faced with imminent dangers that are the cause of accidents and fatalities.

In a judgment over a traffic accident in which a woman was run over while crossing National Road, Magistrate Grixti explained that this was not the first court ruling regarding such a situation and it would be useless if such decisions were not acted upon and only served for statistical purposes.

The only facility available to pedestrians who want to cross the road was the subway that no one uses, for reasons known to all, the magistrate had remarked.

Contacted about the matter, the ADT explained that upgrading works on the underground pedestrian crossing in National Road would follow after works in the St Anne Street subway were completed. A spokesman said a pelican crossing located anywhere along this road was not recommended due to the traffic flow in the area and because the width of certain sections of the road would make it too long for any form of pedestrian crossing to be introduced.

Pedestrian crossing facilities do exist near the Christian doctrine society's headquarters in Blata l-Bajda, at Portes des Bombes (underpass) and in St Anne Street where apart from the subway were also pelican lights.

The spokesman said the distance between the Portes des Bombes facility and the St Anne Street facility was of about 320 metres. The distance between the Blata l-Bajda facility and the Portes des Bombes facility was of 480 metres, meaning that the maximum walking distance is of 240 metres from either side which was considered as being walking distance, the spokesman said.