There exists a simple and highly practicable solution for reducing drastically the ever-increasing volume of traffic and congestion on a number of vital arterial routes around and even beyond the Cottonera area.
Reintroduce the ferry service which was used pre-war between the Three Cities and Valletta and extend the same via a route passing under the new breakwater bridge to Sliema and possibly even to Msida.
The new boats for this service would be designed and constructed specifically to meet the requirements of these sea routes and shall be built to a high level of advanced design, accommodation and finish throughout.
A highly organised service would thus provide easy and time-saving access to Valletta and its neighbourhood especially once the new lifts leading to the Upper Barrakka Gardens become operational.
The trips themselves should additionally prove pleasant and popular with tourists keen on experiencing first-hand the unique beauty of our Grand Harbour and its surroundings.
It is evident that this sea service from the three main and most crowded cities would cater to the needs of commuters to and from Valletta with infinitely more economy of travelling time and probably even fare charges.
Consequentially it should also prove a tremendous boon in relieving traffic pressure and congestion along present road bottlenecks experienced daily to and from Valletta and the central areas on Independence Road. Going by pre-war experience the service would be able to operate almost all year round except on very few exceptional days when the sea is too rough or the weather turns excessively windy.
The new service operated by competent private enterprise will have added advantage over the pre-war ferries in that the areas previously used by the Royal Navy vessels are completely free and unencumbered thus permitting unobstructed movement in any direction.
All the landing stages shall be designed to the high level of design and finish and may adequately incorporate small trading outlets as well as tourist information services and offices to encourage visitors’ movement.