Bisazza Street not yet closed to traffic

Works along Bisazza Street, in Sliema would only commence when Qui-si-Sana Road was resurfaced up to Locker Street, thus making traffic diversion possible, the Resources and Rural Affairs Ministry said yesterday.

A ministry spokesman said works on Bisazza Street were at present limited to the pavement, meaning the road was not yet closed to traffic.

The spokesman explained that works along Qui-si-Sana Road, being carried out by the Sliema local council and Transport Malta, had been scheduled to be completed by end January but inclement weather and a number of difficulties caused delays. According to TM the works should be finished by the end of this week or, at the latest, early next week.

Before works on Bisazza Street started, the ministry held consultation meetings with the Sliema council to keep stakeholders abreast of developments, the spokesman added. Over the past year, meetings were also held with the Sliema business community noting concerns and difficulties and taking on board a number of suggestions.

The ministry had planned to allow periphery road works, including the stretch from Dragut Street to the Midi tunnel, to be completed to ensure better traffic management. However, for some legal and technical complications, this stretch would not be finished prior to April, according to Transport Malta.

“We do not understand the fuss being made over the traffic arrangements once Bisazza Street is closed for works to be carried out. We are employing the same traffic arrangements put in place during the embellishment works in Tower Road. These worked well then and should do so now,” the spokesman said.

He noted the ministry had no other option and had to adhere to such arrangement due to the restricted time window of the project to allow for the completion of the works prior to the summer period. The ministry was confident that, once the works were completed, the project would benefit residents, shop owners, all Maltese who frequent the neighbourhood and also the tourists who visited Sliema regularly.

“The ministry will spare no effort in minimising the inconveniences such a project inevitably causes,” the spokesman said.