Transport Malta chooses villas over the valley

The upgrade of the Kappara junction traffic bottleneck is closer to becoming a reality, after 17 years in the offing. However, it comes at the expense of the listed Ghollieqa Valley nearby.

Transport Malta – with the eager approval of the Kappara residents – will be formally submitting an application to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, which proposes the removal of the existing roundabout. It will be replaced by a free-flow route along Triq Mikiel Anton Vassalli.

A signalised junction and bridge through Għollieqa Valley will link Triq Mikiel Anton Vassalli to Triq Tas-Sliema on the San Ġwann side and a roundabout will ease the traffic interchange on the Gżira side of Triq Tas-Sliema.

This does away with the original plans of having an overpass on Triq Mikiel Anton Vassalli, which would have reached up to the level of balconies and bedrooms of surrounding residences. Residents had been concerned about the devaluation of their property and an increase in health risks.

To be eligible for EU funds, the project has to be feasible, safe and the environmental impact acceptable. However, the bridge – to be built on stilts and with noise barriers to diminish sound pollution - takes up a substantial part of the Għollieqa Valley.

It is designated as “a special area of conservation of a national interest” and even harbours several protected trees. As a result, there has to be an overriding public, national interest for the proposal to go through.

Transport Malta representative Robert Zerafa said: “In a qualitative manner, the valley option seems to be less impactful” although, he added later, that “members of the Mepa board will have a big headache over this one” due to the impact on the valley.

“I hope no one will think that some tiny worm in the valley is more important than us, the people who live there,” said Kappara resident Charles Cassar.

Kappara and Gżira residents were delighted with the proposal: “It is keeping away the new road from our buildings but we’re not lumping it on other people’s buildings,” said Mr Cassar.

The proposal builds on the one the proactive residents came up with last year. “We did not just complain, we came up with a good alternative,” said resident Reuben Overend.

The proposal does away with the pulling down of several buildings on the Gżira side of Triq Tas-Sliema. Although owners of garages on that road will not have access due to the proposed roundabout, alternative access from the rear is being considered.

The cost of both options were deemed to be very similar. “The advantage is that the bulk of the works for the valley option will be taking place offsite, so traffic will be less impacted,” said Mr Zerafa.

A cost benefit analysis exercise based on the average time commuters save in traffic and the cost of labour of that time revealed that, with this proposal, €49 million would be saved.

Despite this, the serious problem of air quality in the area will not be solved. Emanuel Sinagra, responsible for air quality and assessment, said: “It is hoped that with the easy flow of traffic, there will be less pollution.”

“Fingers crossed then that Mepa will choose this option,” said one resident. If Mepa approves the application, works are expected to start at the end of 2013.