Monday, 21st April 2008

Manwel Dimech Bridge finishing touches

Photo: Matthew Mirabelli.

Motorists should be relieved today when the Manwel Dimech Bridge fully reopens for traffic at 3 p.m., more than a year and a half after a €6 million (Lm2.58 million) project to rebuild the bridge's two carriageways started.

The project was fraught with controversy because of delays in its completion. Originally the works were meant to have been completed by last September but the deadline was moved to November and then again to March. The contractor had insisted that May was the realistic delivery time. Some work, including the rehabilitation of the underlying valley, still needs to be done.

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Comments

S. Agius (on 21/4/08)

The Kappara junction and the Marsa crossroads should be 2 major national projects given priority with the Marsa crossroads situation becoming even worse once Smart City starts operating thus I believe it is important to anticipate the issues here as the chaos would be major if we start this project in a couple of years time when the situation would have worsened.. I believe a university student once put forward a project focused on the Marsa crossroads which made interesting reading. I believe it would help us all to get an idea at what stage, if any, these two projects are looked at by government at the moment.

A. Camilleri (on 21/4/08)

I have already commented on the Kappara traffic problem in the recent past, and I would like to repeat this, even if solely to stress its importance. The Manwel Dimech Bridge is finally ready. The speed along the bridge certainly does not need to be increased, for obvious reasons (safety). However, the Kappara roundabout section needs to be tackled IMMEDIATELY, I stress IMMEDIATELY. The idea given earlier by another correspondent on this issue is certainly one way out. ADT, please get this area under control NOW, not tomorrow, please. The problem there is Sliema Road/Kappara Road; at certain times traffic should not be permitted to cross the Regional Road towards Sliema Road (this Road just cannot take so much traffic at one time!) as this is blocking the circulation, particularly traffic travelling towards Msida. Until this whole problem is solved, some temporary measures should be introduced FORTHWITH so as to stop the blockage taking place around the Kappara roundabout. Thanks ADT.

Karen Zammit Manduca (on 21/4/08)

This project is thankfully virtually complete. Maybe now it is pertinent to ask whether the bridges on the San Gwann side also need replacement or rehabilitation and, if so, when this is to be carried out. I believe that the speed limits had been set in place for security on both bridges and not simply only on Manwel Dimech Bridge.

R Camilleri (on 21/4/08)

Will the speed camreas remain in force now, since the bridge is not dangerous any more?

D. Saliba (on 21/4/08)

Finally! Time to commence work on the Kappara junction now, as it's therein that the main problem lies...