Juan Ameen and Matthew Xuereb
Works to shore up bypass retaining wall
Reinforcement structures are being built to strengthen the retaining wall below the St Paul's Bay bypass which, when completed, should result in the reopening of the road.
The room-like structures, technically known as fin walls, are going up after the planning authority approved an application filed by the transport authority which had doubts about the strength of the wall.
The wall had been constructed to prevent any further landslides after part of the road collapsed in 2000. But the southbound carriageway of the bypass has been closed since as a precaution and the transport authority will not open it until it is convinced that it is completely safe to do so.
The fin walls are located on a site belonging to Polidano Brothers, who had filed an application for the construction of a three-storey car park not exceeding the height of the retaining wall in 2007. The permit is still pending.
Since there was a pending application for garages, Mepa has allowed the transport authority to build the fin walls in the form of garages, just in case Polidano Brothers are given the green light.
In 2002, the developers had requested permission to build a language school but its use later changed to an elderly people's home. This was refused because the building was going to rise above the level of the bypass.
In 2002, the area was outside the development scheme but this changed after the local plans were set down in 2006. The only area that has remained in an outside development zone is the green strip of land between the bypass and the retaining wall. However, residents in the area insist that the whole site is outside scheme and are considering legal action.
After the site collapsed nine years ago, Mepa auditor Joe Falzon had compiled a 45-page report lambasting Mepa for its failure to take meaningful action against the developers and insisted that the latter be made to restore the area to its original state at their own expense.
Despite several enforcement notices, the report had pointed out, the authority had never stopped the developer, who was allowed to do as he pleased.
A Mepa spokesman said the authority would come in line with the report's recommendations as soon as the fin walls are completed - the transport authority wanted to be 100 per cent sure the wall was safe.
The report's author, Mr Falzon, had said the authority would come in line once the green area was fully embellished and the area made safe.
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victor vella
Apr 21st 2009, 00:56
This photo point out the total disregard for public safety we have the Occupation al health and safety unit which is doing sterling work, but public safety is still non existant here in Malta.and when the accident happens we get a court expert who draws up his report and the magistrate who takes years to issue his report and then if the law of prescription hasn't yet cancelled any chance of criminal or civil action the case drags in court for years and years ,vera mickey mouse man
Chris Finch
Apr 20th 2009, 16:55
Reinforcement structures are being built to strengthen the retaining wall below the St Paul's Bay bypass which, when completed, should result in the reopening of the road. - Hang on, wasn't this road declared finished and opened in 2008? Who is responsible for this farce? Action is needed and the developer should have had the land confiscated and been fined millions of euros and another contractor paid to put this right.
Mario Tabone-Vassallo
Apr 20th 2009, 16:35
Riflessjonijiet: 1.Min jaghmar, jikmanda, f'Malta? 2.Is-sogru li s-sewwieqa bghatew ser jaghti kont tieghu xi hadd, jew nistennew li jmut xi hadd u mbaghad, kif jghid il-Malti, bikja u mahta u jghaddi kollox? 3.X'wicc ghandna nfittxu x-xaghara fl-ghagina maz-zghir u d-dghajjef meta jsehh dan kollu? 4.Possibli b'dan kollu ma hemmx lok ghall-passi kriminali? 5.Il-marelli x'kumbinazzjoni, ir-ristrutturar ser isir hekk li jista' jitbiddel f'garaxxi jekk jinghata l-permess: stennew naqa hbieb
J. Borg
Apr 20th 2009, 13:06
"...Despite several enforcement notices, the report had pointed out, the authority had never stopped the developer, who was allowed to do as he pleased..."
Dr. Gonzi don't worry , there's no need to explain why you are dragging your feet to implement anything near transparent party financing!
Albert Bezzina
Apr 20th 2009, 12:42
Crass insensitivity is to apply to construct a public building with possibly hundreds of occupants (language school or old people's home) on a time line when the request was done in 2002 while the road had already collapsed in 2000.
Fin walls may be strong and act in the same way as a T or H beam supports but placed vertically. The essential geological problem causing the collapse is not a straight forward vertical collapse of the road. It is a seaward slide of the whole road and underling material due to the loss of the natural buttressing affect from the pre-existent rocky slope which has been excavated away. The fin walls will not solve the problem, they will delay it. The slope should be re-instated and re-enforced with concrete buttressing from the Bypass edge right down to the street below.
LGalea
Apr 20th 2009, 10:03
I wonder how anyone would want to live in those matchbox apartments on the left side of the photo.