Minister was not informed of Mellieha one-way traffic agreement

The Transport Ministry revealed today that Transport Minister Austin Gatt had not been informed about an agreement reached between Transport Malta and Mellieha Council to close Marfa Road/George Borg Olivier Street to uphill traffic towards Mellieha.

In a statement, the ministry said that last Monday, Dr Gatt made it clear to Mellieha Mayor Robert Cutajar and Transport Malta that their arrangement was unacceptable and needed to be revoked immediately.

He made it clear to them that the road was either closed to everyone or opened to everyone.

"The minister made it clear that while he was prepared to reach agreement on arrangements to reduce inconvenience for the people of Melllieha, he was not prepared to accept systems where one qualified to use public roads on the basis of his residence."

It was therefore agreed that the road would reopen for two-way traffic from Friday and that the wardens at the bottom of Mellieha Hill near the Sea Bank Hotel would be removed. Instead, a notice would instruct drivers of heavy vehicles to use the alternative road near Popeye Village, while vehicles which could carry up to seven passengers could use Borg Olivier Street.

Some changes to parking in Borg Olivier Street  were also agreed, but the impact of parking on traffic flow would be evaluated and should problems arise, parking would be removed. 

These, the ministry said, were temporary arrangements until works on the Mellieha Bypass were concluded, at which time arrangements would return to normal.