Motorists urged to avoid Mriehel bypass

Anthony Neil Pace

Jan 5th 2011, 23:27

That Same day, I was driving on Council of Europe Road, Luqa, and a Bus and Three cars smashed into each other. - I arrived late for MCAST.

That Road really needs as much help as the Mriehel ByPass does.

M Camilleri

Jan 4th 2011, 14:47

I had two incidents in different locations last year, where I passed over a slippery patch and experienced the same loss of control described in earlier blog entries. In both cases I was driving slowly and only had minor car damages in one and, luckily, none in the other.

However it could easily have been otherwise. There is no way to realise the slipperiness in advance. One just goes for the foot brake and finds it is useless until the car either loses momentum or hits something.

The wetness of the road due to rain seems to aggravate the condition.

After each incident I phoned 112 who promptly put me through to the Civil Protection Department. I gave them the exact location and nature of the problem.

D.Bartolo

Jan 4th 2011, 07:17

The police force knew about this and it being a force to maintain law and order it is there prime duty to secure whatever is dangerous to the public.

No use informing the public not to use the Mriehel bypass, it should have been made safe or close it off immediately until made safe , this I understand would be a job for the Civil Protection Division.

I used the road myself yesterday morning , no warning , no signs to maintain slow traffic and no police presence to control traffic.

A fine piece of police work that is giveing warnings and doing nothing to resolve the problem.

Any annoucements the problem has been solved ???????????

Govann Attard

Jan 3rd 2011, 20:15

This morning on my way to Attard at 7.00am, exactly on approaching uphill, I applied the brakes as there was a large lorry unable to move forward, and on doing so I ended on the metal barricade damaging my car to the tone of Euros 362. a very nice start to a New Year!

C. Cachia

Jan 3rd 2011, 17:34

This morning whilst going to work my car couldn't stop at all. It is equipped with ABS and it still skidded for almost 50m. I went to my insurance and was told that diesel spills are not covered. What am I to do? Why should I pay for the negligence of 1 person? I think that there must be something that I can do...I hope.

G.Cassar

Jan 3rd 2011, 17:04

If I may ask, where do the police publish these warnings to the public? I was at home all the morning and since I live alone I always have the radio switched on. I am sure that I haven’t heard any such warning. If these warnings are not broadcast on all radio stations how can the police expect that the public would comply with their requests?

Jesmond Tedesco Triccas

Jan 3rd 2011, 16:39

We have helmet laws, we have seat belt laws, and now the government is also trying to come up with incentives for us to get rid of our bangers. Well, I'd say that the main problem with diesel spillage is that most of the vehicles (trucks and vans mainly) do not have tanks which seal up properly. When the tanks are full to capacity some amount of spillage always occurs when the vehicle turns round bends. I'm sure that brand new vehicles have such tanks, but what about the old, and not so old ones. I am sure it would not cost an arm and a leg to have the old tank changed to one which seals up properly and we would then hopefully have less accidents. And being a motorcyclist, I can assure you it is not an experience you would enjoy if you ever come in contact.

Dr Ing Patrick Attard

Jan 3rd 2011, 12:12

Thank you to The Times for informing us.

I think it's about time to apply strict penalties to people who are found responsible just like the newly introduced drink-driving penalties. Diesel and Sand on the road are fatal for motorcyclists - and they are spilt in corners or roundabouts where it's much more difficult to evade and control the motorbike.

It's about time more respect is shown to the motorcyclists was who are actually generating less congestion and less pollution.

Ramon Casha

Jan 3rd 2011, 11:16

I can confirm that at around 7.15am, driving towards Attard, the road was already slippery at the traffic lights where the bypass meets the aqueduct. It remained slippery for a long time after that, although that may have been caused by the diesel or other substance being on my tyres. I passed by one small van which had spun 180 degrees along the way.

John Micallef

Jan 3rd 2011, 11:02

u omerta hadd ma ra xejn, lanqas is CCTV cameras to fuq l-ispeed cameras. Imma jekk tghaddi bis- 70.5Kmh tarak tafux!! (Avolja it-tabelli kwazi qalawom kollha, halli jipruvaw inessuk li hemm camera)

Paul Mallia

Jan 3rd 2011, 10:21

All these comments are frivolous. Isn't there a lot of cameras on that particular road (the Bye-pass I mean). Surely above the speed camera there is one normal camera fitted to the same pole, and there is the camera that is on the Libyan Premises just before the lights and many others. Surely one can find track as to what happened in this instance. Maybe there was a spillage from some truck (It could have been an Enemalta Delivery Truck) and this person should be made aware of this situation and to clean the act. Also, there should be some mechanism whereby we can sue this person (or entity) for such negligence. It is already hard as it is in Malta, let alone having to worry about skidding in this manner after the rain falls. Action should be taken immediately!

Ganni Ellul

Jan 3rd 2011, 08:38

With all due respect, whilst thanking the Police and CPD couldn't the radio stations notify drivers as well? I don't know what others did but Calypso radion was only playing music and the usual nonsence chit chat.One other thing, Last saturday whilst driving from Floriana towars Marsa at the junction where the road from Go head office and 13 th December road there was a man hole which was dislogded from it's place with the water pressure, I duly reported it to the police.This was at about 6:30 pm.At 11 pm I had to pass through the same way and the manhole was still there in the middle of the road.Hitting nearly 90 Kilos of cast iron steel is no joke.Don't we have emergency personell during the so called silent hours?Transport Malta is responsable for the upkeep and safety of our roads.

J Farrugia

Jan 3rd 2011, 08:19

This is what I call a good service to all of us. The feedback being given by these gentlemen and civic minded people is important so that we can inform other motorists to avoid certain roads due to them being a danger to life and limb. Please drive carefully. The roads are not treacherous but the diesel or whatever is causing all the slippery IS TREACHEROUS. Once more I caution all drivers to drive safely and carefully knowing the danger we face from such road conditions. Thanks for your feedback.

Antoine Zammit

Jan 3rd 2011, 08:13

Dan ta kull sena xi hadd irresponsabbli qieghed jitfa id-diesel ghal ta l-apposta. Is-sena l-ohra skiddjajt u kelli accident b'konsegwenza ta' hekk, meta kont ghaddej speed decenti, u kelli neck injury u kwazi kelli nibdel quddiem tal karozza kollu. Karozza gdida! Ta kull sena f'dawn l-inhawi. Spiza spizun, sena ilu u bqajt inbati l-konsegwenzi. Proprju issa l-karozza regghet dahlet ghal-fazi ohra ta' tiswijiet ta l-ahhar partijiet minnha li rrid inbiddel minhabba dan ix-xi hadd tassew kristjan. Tghid din ghandha x'taqsam mar-Riforma tat-Trasport Pubbliku? Jew maz-zieda fil-prezz tal-fuel. Hi x'inhi tan-nejk ibati l-konsegwenzi l-poplu hekk, tort tal-agir irresponsabbli, u ta min jistmerru. Fejn huma l-awtoritajiet??

L Spiteri

Jan 3rd 2011, 08:00

Anke int u tiela lejn Attard. Qisek fuq l-isnow !!!!! Mnalla wasalt sax-xoghol. Misshom ghalqua kollha mhux l-ewwel bicca u titla minn mar-roundabout.

Etienne Psaila

Jan 3rd 2011, 07:50

Is it towards Marsa or Attard? As for me who was driving towards Attard, from Flamingo till Attard Farm Supplies the road is all slippery with the unkown substance (possibly diesel).

A. Attard

Jan 3rd 2011, 07:50

i just passed from there right now and the police were stopping cars from driving towards attard not vice versa!!! that is, avoid mriehel bypass if you would like to drive towards attard/rabat...otherwise, the lane leading to marsa is completely open!!!