New Valletta permanent traffic route annouced
Video: Alan Adami
City Gate will start to be dismantled on May 2, when the new permanent traffic route for Valletta will start to be used.
Addressing a news conference this morning, Transport Malta's David Sutton said that once City Gate is demolished, Pope Pius V Road, one of the main entry points into Valletta will cease to exist.
This road is used by about 600 cars between 8.15 and 9.15 a.m. daily.
All this traffic will be rerouted and the main entry points will become St Paul's and St Mark's streets.
While the traffic direction of most roads within the capital will remain the same, some changes will be made to facilitate movement within the city.
The direction of the traffic flow along Archbishop's Street will change and Triq il-Lanca will become one way.
Traffic from the area near Hastings, which accommodates several residences and offices, will go through St Mark's Street, down a short part of Old Bakery, cross through St John Street, up Strait Street cutting cut across through Melita Street to reach the Biaggo area.
Mr Sutton said the routes were decided after various scenarios were studied and environmental considerations were taken into account.
Servicing vehicles will use the same route as the Park and Ride van.
Between May 2 and 16, due to the City Gate works, pedestrians entering Valletta will be rerouted.
Pedestrians would be able to access Capital through Nelson Avenue and St James' Ditch. This pathway will be open between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. with a shuttle bus service for people with mobility problems.
Police and Transport Malta officials will be directing traffic as the permanent changes kick in on May 2.
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Ms Pauline Busuttil
Apr 16th 2011, 17:34
Tantx tghajtu ghax tqajmuh il-Kunsill tal-Belt. Ilmenti fuq il-progett ta' Bieb il-Belt kellhom u hafna ukoll imma ma ghamlu xejn biex jiddefend lillna l-Beltin.
Issa naraw ftit gimghat ohra kif ser tispicca l-Belt, bahh u bahh minn filghodu sa filghaxija. L-agonija illi issa li bdiet u Imbierek Alla il kbarat ghadhom ma indunawx. Imma ahna l-Beltin indunajna u l-ilmenti taghna qed jaqaw fuq widnejn torox. Minn ma huwx kapaci issolvi l-problemi taghna, ahjar iwwarbu ghax ahna l-Beltin ma rridux nies li jirraprezentawna qedin hemm biex jidhru u jippupaw sidirhom biss.
Problemi kelna, ghad ghandna u issa ser ikolna ferm iktar.
David Borg Bartolo
Apr 16th 2011, 10:40
The idea of removing city gate and leaving a gaping hole in the bastions reminds me of a Dali painting... still, from an architectural point of view this seems to me to be an easy way out. Demolish and build nothing. An architect should be able to handle the space given to portray a message, to my understanding the void in the bastions is an abstract message itself... perhaps I just don't get it though. Then again, if such an architect is running on a budget there are only so many things that he can do. Personally I would have loved to see the old city gate being rebuilt. As regards Pope Pius V Road, I am sure that it was built for a purpose so even the idea of removing this road completely should have immediately set alarm bells ringing. I can somehow sense that a bridge is going to built across this gaping hole in the bastion sometime in the future [possibly 100 years from now?]....
Michael Scicluna
Apr 16th 2011, 12:11
You are absolutely right, that in less than 100 years there will be a bridge built along Pope Pius V Road, same as it is reported to day in the same paper that after 60 years a bridge is being build in the entrance to Vittoriosa to rejoin the bastions, not for cars but for people to walk across the bastions. ‘Citizien Care and Satisfaction’.
Mr Pierre Bugeja
Apr 16th 2011, 09:56
As a shop owner in Valletta, I am worried about access to the city by pedestrians. Apparently, the only access , as suggested by TM, is through St. James's ditch and up the zigzag passage. A very steep incline for everyone. I contacted a representative of TM and suggested an alternative route for pedestrains, which could also act as an attraction. This route , which I remeber was used when the old beautiful gate was demolished, was through a gate on the right side of the bus terminus, then past the central bank annexe, then over a bridge that crosses St .James's ditch, into the bastion and up to castille square. Exit is through an tunnel ( previously N.A.A.F.I) Hardly any incline for people with mobility problems. I hope that my suggestion will not fall on deaf ears or else shop owners might just as well close shop during the demolition period.
Mr Victor Zammit Mckeon
Apr 16th 2011, 09:47
Long live the prophets of doom!
Long live the prophets of gloom!
Long live the spoilsports!
Long live the envious!
Long live the jealous!
Long live the paranoid!
Thank you, Government et alia!
Mr Chris Gatt
Apr 16th 2011, 08:39
So , the plan is a contorted route which crosses traffic coming down Old Bakery street twice times, first into St Mark Street ( Which admittedly was always the case, but far less frequently used) then again across Melita Street ( again used but not that frequently). The whole thing happening again in the evening. This is going to be fun!
Ms Elizabeth Aquilina
Apr 15th 2011, 23:01
As a resident, let's hope that car hooting is strictly prohibited inside the city, otherwise when there is a traffic jam, which is to be expected, we will all go mad! Local Council and Police please take note!
Joseph Attard
Apr 15th 2011, 18:47
Were wasting time and energy......why moan....why..... its really history. Piano has had it this way! If I owned a business or an office in Valletta i would just move out.......or stay there and wait and wait and wait and wait and wait till in a few years time the footpath will grow so much that it will deilver pay back!
its a learning curve...time will tell!
Mr Paul Caruana
Apr 15th 2011, 17:26
Pity the Maltese taxpayer, more and more of whose money keep being spent on Valletta's rotting corpse, while considering him/herself lucky if he/she does not turn into one before securing a hospital bed.......
Mr john vella
Apr 16th 2011, 08:48
@Anthony Borg
Yes Sir, people do forget, BUT I can assure you NOT ALL. I still hold dear to me the newspaper post, issued by the PN, 'Kuntatt'
(1) January 2005, harga 17. On page 3 Heading: ' Inkomplu nahdmu', 'Ingeddu pajjizna flimkien'. . . . and how flimkien we are 5 Billion EURO and counting in debt.
(2) 'Kuntatt' harga 20, December 2006. Gejjieni fis-Sod ghal uliedna, on page 2. 'Budget li jnaqqas it-taxxa', 'fosthom bi tnaqqis sostanzjali fl-income tax u inzjattivi li jzidu l-flus fi bwiet in-nies' . . . well after 5 years this the GonziPN got it right, he increase 500 euro a week and we mortals still waiting for reduction in income tax.
Mr Anthony Borg
Apr 15th 2011, 17:17
Never in the history of (Malta) have so (few) irked so (many).
Politicians who dig in their heels despite the vast response of the people against this project are not worthy to represent the nation.
But then again, we only live once and people tend to forget and move on. That's the weapon the politican uses to get his way.
Mr Paul Borg
Apr 15th 2011, 17:14
Does anyone remember my letter from 2 weeks ago. Well it was no prediction, I was right on the dot. At this stage I wish the French Ambassador all the luck cause all the traffic is going to pass right on his doorstep. I would also send my grief to those suppliers having to deliver goods to all the restaurants and hotel in South Street. The new system means they have to leave their vehicles unattended and walk all the way from the New open theatre. 300 meters of heavy stuff. There is a solution, but, nobody wants to listen. Invert the last steep part of Old mint street , so traffic can turn directly into Melita street and up Biagio area to South street. HELLO anyone listening at the local council ??????
Mr Alexander Pace Gouder.
Apr 15th 2011, 16:44
What a mess. Another nail in the coffin for our Capital Valletta. Cannot understand how cars are going to be routed via St.Paul's Street. It is almost impossible to pass now i.e. Presently. What is going to happen after 2nd May. We will wait and see. Probably (FRUSTRATION ?) Valletta will become a dead CITY. VALLETTA RIP.
Mr Ray Azzopardi
Apr 15th 2011, 17:35
mr said
jien li qiegehd fil kunsill lokali pretendejt li il ministeru u it TM JAGHMLU APPUNTAMNET MAGHNA IL KUNSILLIERA BIEX JIEHDU L-OPINJONI TAGHNA . ma jimpurtaniex mid data, li jimpurtani huwa li hawn hafna residenti li diga qed ibaghtu ahseb u ara le jitwaqa il bieb tal belt kemm ser ibaghtu iktar.
Nitama li qed tifhem il punt tieghi ghax wara kollox jien kelli hafna ilmenti li ressaqthom quddiem il-kunsill imma mid dehera waqaw fuq widnejn torox u hadd ma indenja ruhu jisma dawn l-ilmenti laqas il-ministru ikoncernat .............
nahseb li taqbel li ghanda issir konsultazzjoni wara kollox il gvern jiftahar wisq bil konsultazzjoni, pero ibqa cert li mil-kliem ghal fatti hemm bahar jikkumbatti, ghax kemm fdin il-materja kif ukollfuq il progett kollu QATT U QATT ma kelna konsultazzjoni....
Ray Azzopardi
Kunsillier
Valletta
Mr Peter Korsten
Apr 15th 2011, 18:01
"Cannot understand how cars are going to be routed via St.Paul's Street. It is almost impossible to pass now i.e. Presently. What is going to happen after 2nd May."
Very simple: the parking places will be removed.
Mr John Said
Apr 15th 2011, 16:42
It seems like that a lot of people can not stand the fact that Malta keeps under going such big and ambitious projects.Specialy in the peek of a world financial crisis, where the government and EU are financing jobs done by maltese workers, ie earning their every day bread.
Min irrid jigi ikonsultat fuq kollox; min ma togbux id data; its because of these kind of people that our capital city had to wait so long to start being polished back to its splendour!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mr Peter Korsten
Apr 15th 2011, 18:04
Rather than financing jobs, particularly the pay cheque of Renzo Piano (who isn't Maltese, last time I checked) and other consultants, I would like the government to stop wasting money on over-ambitious projects if they can't even get the deficit down, let alone the national debt. If you're heavily indebted and spending more money than you earn, what do you do? Spend even more money?
Mr John Said
Apr 15th 2011, 19:59
I do beleive that VLC should be involved, but would the council members agree between themselves? So how can everybody else agree on every issue.
Better if the VLC concentrates on the good work they are doing, specialy when organizing those more frequent nice events. Well done to the local council members and staff.
Mr Thomas Rubicon
Apr 15th 2011, 16:41
Looks like it's going to be a long hot summer (and dusty too!)
Ms Tanya Briffa
Apr 15th 2011, 16:31
So I take it the direction of traffic in St Paul's Street will also change? Hopefully it will allow us to access Castille Place, which is very important to all who frequent St James Cavalier and the environs.
Michael Scicluna
Apr 15th 2011, 16:29
After all these years waiting for this to happen one could have waited another few weeks till the Reformed Bus Systm in July is in place and people visiting Valetta would have been spared this inconvenience due to works being carried out, and therefore less cars would have been used. Citizien Care and Satisfaction, that's the name of the game.
Mario Camilleri
Apr 15th 2011, 16:09
A city without a gate ...........an opera house without a roof...........a local council without guts.........
Mr Paul Borg
Apr 15th 2011, 17:22
Correction '' A local council....what local council ? and to give us the news is a person who nobody knows and has no clue of the persistent complaints there will be from VIPs, just wait and see, I live smack in the middle of all that chaos.
Godfrey Camilleri
Apr 15th 2011, 15:59
It will be useful to post these traffic plans to each household.
Mr Simmy Bharu
Apr 15th 2011, 15:46
THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE!!!! to start such major works just before the busy tourist season ...why cannot the works start in October ?so that by next May the main works would have concluded ? IS THIS PLANNING ?????
Paul Micallef
Apr 15th 2011, 15:44
Some years ago a hole was made in the Cottonera bastions to make way for a new road. This hole is being bridged by the present Government so that the two sides are AGAIN joined together. In Valletta the Government is going to do another hole between the Putirjal bastions. Who knows, maybe in 30 years time someone will come with the idea of bridge it again.
Mr Joe Micallef
Apr 15th 2011, 17:21
You mean il-karnival,. True that is the most appropriate PL celebration of the worker. Shame on you government!!!!
Mr FRANS H SAID
Apr 15th 2011, 14:49
And all this because the infamoursPiano wanted a hole in the wall.
Can anyone inform me when the funeral will take place - oops, I mean the funeral for Valletta which is in its last gasps. RIP Valletta.
How could Piano and those mesmerised by his name accept that one quater of Valletta will be isolated. It is now nearly impossible for any car to move from one side of the city top another. Malta, and Valletta must be only city with a gate without a gate!!!
Mr Ray Azzopardi
Apr 15th 2011, 13:57
another decision without consultation.......at least with the local council................... shame !!!!!!