Sta Lucija ring-road

Through this paper I wish to enquire whether the Traffic Management Unit within the ADT, which "Regulate(s) the setting out of traffic management schemes" (ADT website), is aware of the fact that the Sta Lucija ring-road, accessed from Tal-Barrani Road, is suddenly out of bounds to non-residents between 6.30 a.m. and 9 a.m.

A sign to this effect, coupled with the presence of a warden, drove home (forgive the pun) the message the other morning. The result? The usual long line of cars, which usually stretches for quite a distance from the Sta Lucija roundabout down Tal-Barrani, stretched much further down, resulting in long traffic delays and increased pollution for the Sta Lucija residents doing their early morning walk on the specially designated footpaths!

Cars going in the direction of Luqa from Tal-Barrani find the ring-road a convenient means of avoiding traffic jams at the roundabout, which has to cater for traffic coming from Paola Square and the centre of Tarxien, besides Tal-Barrani. I presume that the decision to close this road to non-residents was made by the Sta Lucija local council.

If so, does the council have a right to do this? After all, this is a ring-road, not a village street. Just imagine the implications if the Paola council decided to make Paola Square off-limits to non-residents during rush hour, or the Hamrun council decided to close off St Joseph High Road, or the Sliema council decided to block access to the coast road! Unthinkable, isn't it? But it seems that some areas are above the unthinkable and live in a privileged no-go area.

I trust that common sense will prevail and the relevant authorities will rectify the situation.