The Tal-Barrani road ‘needs major redesign’
The Tal-Barrani Road. Photo: Jason Borg
The road where Fr Renè Cilia died in an accident a week ago needs a major redesign to meet today’s safety standards, according to Transport Malta, which also said it was looking into installing roadside barriers along that stretch.
Tal-Barrani Road was constructed in the 1960s and designed for speeds of about 40mph.
Like most dual roads of that time, it was built with narrow carriageways lined with trees and separated by a narrow central strip, while crash barriers were only installed at bends where the road banks, a TM spokesman told The Times.
“To meet today’s road safety standards for new roads a major redesign of this road would be required along the same lines as the recently completed Council of Europe Road.
“This would involve road and central strip widening through probable expropriation of land to accommodate median barriers, the removal of those mature trees and the setting back of party walls which present a roadside hazard,” the spokesman said.
Fr Cilia, 27, of Qormi, died on impact after his car mounted the central strip and careered onto the other side of the road where it collided with two vehicles.
As news of the popular priest’s death spread on November 4, readers rushed to timesofmalta.com suggesting that crash barriers could have prevented the crash and saved his life. It later emerged that he was not wearing a seatbelt.
Commuters also expressed concern about the frequent traffic accidents on the road.
According to Transport Malta accident data for 2007-2009, Tal-Barrani Road is one of Malta’s most dangerous. In 2009, speed cameras were installed in what was then the most problematic section, between the traffic signal junctions at Triq San Anard, Tarxien and November 25th Avenue, Żejtun.
Transport Malta said they had a “positive impact” both in terms of road safety and average vehicle speed.
However, the section of the road between Palm Street, Tarxien and Xintill Street Roundabout near Santa Luċia, where Sunday’s fatal accident occurred, remains outside the speed camera zone.
The TM spokesman said that according to police data, there had previously been no other accidents involving vehicles crossing over the carriageway on this section of the road. Most of the accidents that take place on the straight sections of Tal-Barrani Road are front-to-rear, involving vehicles travelling in the same direction on the same carriageway.
“In this respect roadside obstacles would probably present more of a potential safety hazard. Although no definite plans to install median barriers exist at this point in time, any decision to place such an installation will have to be taken in the light of the geometry of the whole road carriageway.”
The authority said it would be looking into the accidents that have taken place on this section of the road and may provide “road restraint systems” such as median barriers and roadside barriers where the road geometry permits.
It will also be looking at vehicle speeds to determine whether educational or enforcement measures are needed.
The spokesman urged drivers and passengers to wear seat belts and drive within the speed limits.
TM is currently using European Union funding to introduce a national traffic control centre that will coordinate traffic signal junctions and Pelican crossings along the main road network leading to Valletta, including Tal-Barrani Road.
This would reduce traffic congestion and delays while improving road safety and facilitating the centralised management of traffic incidents.
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anton portelli
Nov 13th 2012, 16:57
-major redesign-consists in one lane and kerb wide enough for a helicopter to land!
Manuel Zammit
Nov 13th 2012, 15:19
What have trees to do with this? I get the shivers every time a TM spokesman opens his mouth. The trees in the picture are behind the wall which runs along this road so what bearing did they have on this accident? Stupid, arrogant political appointees who want to make their mark whether for good or bad. Shame on you lot. Can't wait for the exodus from TM to begin.
Gianfrancesco Buttigieg
Nov 13th 2012, 08:13
1. Learn how to drive and read road conditions and be smart enough to adapt your driving to the road.
2. Stop overspeeding, going far too slow or driving agressively/dangerously. You're impressing no one.
3. Leave the trees alone - stop uglifying Malta
4. Resurface (tarmac)
That's all...
M. Attard
Nov 12th 2012, 23:52
Any road, if you cross the street on the opposite carriage for some reason becomes very dangerous and may result in fatal accident. Its not just one single road but all of them.
Johann Tonna
Nov 12th 2012, 23:28
Lets hope it won't become a single lane each way!
A couple more speed cameras along the way with speed limit set to 70mph should do the trick, plus some mini speed bumps like there are on the Hal Far road.
Ivan Scicluna
Nov 12th 2012, 23:23
What is this compulsive obsession to remove mature trees???? There's a miriad of other roads much worse off than "tal-barrani" - why don't you start with those? Reckless driving is the number one killer!!
O Galea
Nov 13th 2012, 08:46
you are right.... but you are wasting your breath.
It seems that this sad accident was exactly what they were waiting for..... an excuse to start chopping down/uproot mature trees...
Cari A. M
Nov 12th 2012, 22:43
While at it fix the road up the hill of t'Alla u ommu.. no light reflectors in the middle of the road, no light, no lit signs for one to see where the curve is. The only thing you can see is the bend of the pavement with your own car's headlight... it is like driving in the desert.
Are we waiting for a disaster to happen at night?
M Cachia
Nov 12th 2012, 18:45
about time that safety precautions are implemented ,TM only at Tal Barrani need a redesign????????
GL Calleja
Nov 12th 2012, 15:39
Continued: Roads do not cause accidents, drivers do.Trees, curb sides, etc do not cause accidents, drivers do. Stop making excuses for reckless drivers and put the blame where it belongs.When is the Police Commissioner going to wake up from his deep sleep and stop this cancerous reckless driving If Tal Barrani road is so dangerous how come it is not better supervised? Stop pointing fingers and act
GL Calleja
Nov 12th 2012, 15:32
Why is it so hard to admit that most Maltese drivers are reckless drivers? A young priest has died and nobody knows why, except that he was not wearing a seat belt. What else do we know about that accident? Was the priest using a mobile while driving, did he fall asleep while driving? Was he speeding and lost control of the vehicle? Lot of questions but no answers.Nobody knows what really happened
Michael Magri
Nov 12th 2012, 15:22
The road where Fr Renè Cilia died in an accident a week ago needs a major redesign to meet today’s safety standards, according to Transport Malta, which also said it was looking into installing roadside barriers along that stretch.
HELLO...... WAKE UP CALL.... ABOUT TIME TOO....!!!
J. Debono
Nov 12th 2012, 15:20
We need crash barriers urgently.
Not to save these road maniacs! With the speed some of the drivers drive, they will die - whatever we do!
But to save us normal drivers from finding these speed maniacs coming head-on onto us.
Carmel Camilleri
Nov 12th 2012, 15:04
This is all nonsense. The fact remains that all fatal accidents are the cause of over speeding and reckless driving. IN the case of Fr. Rene this was aggravated by failing to put on the seat belt.
J. Debono
Nov 12th 2012, 16:19
You are 100% right.
However we need to protect innocent drivers, who are the victims of head-on collisions.
Richard Curmi
Nov 12th 2012, 13:39
The speed camera installed in that position serves for two purposes; the first is to catch those unwary doing a few kph more then 60kph, the second is the total chaos during the rush by those nerd drivers who drive on the outside lane at speeds lower then 60kph, and when they start approching the camera drop thier speed further down to 40-50kph, which results to most cars driving bumper to bumper.
martin chetcuti
Nov 12th 2012, 13:28
The redesign should be in the driver's attitude.
As for the trees they are behind the side walls and cannot pose any danger
Tim Vella
Nov 12th 2012, 12:32
"Constructed in the 1960s and designed for speeds of about 40mph."
That is more than the 60km per hour that the speed camera imposes!
D. A . Agius
Nov 12th 2012, 14:47
But if it was 70km/h then there would be a lot less letters to post with photos (and fines)!
As if since the 1960s car safety has not improved. The one thing which really needs to improve is the road surface! If it's flat it's 99 % more slippery and deadly with a cupful of diesel included!
Charles Zammit
Nov 12th 2012, 12:28
@ Chris Finch agree wholly with you Hitting the nail on the head .
A A Camilleri
Nov 12th 2012, 12:23
barriers would have saved the cars on the other side of the road, but as for the young priest he would probably overturned when hitting the barriers and still would have died as he was not wearing a seat belt.
Michael Borg
Nov 12th 2012, 12:14
was designed for 40MPH i.e 64 kph while speed limit that road is 60 kmh !!!! apart from better tyres , suspension ABS etc no further comment
Mr Emanuel Farrugia
Nov 12th 2012, 13:21
Prosit. Dawn huma affarijiet xoghol 'l membri tal-Kunsill Lokali taz-Zejtun. X'aktar .............?
Emanuel Farrugia former Executive Secretary Mtarfa Local Council
Daniel Vella
Nov 12th 2012, 11:53
TM you are just exaggerating things to avoid doing anything about it.
Peter Murray
Nov 12th 2012, 11:08
It is amazing how only a fatality prompts such trady and retrospective conclusions by TM.We are the epitomy of reaction as opposed to a more accountable pro-action.
Neville Roberts
Nov 12th 2012, 10:46
This road is not unsafe, its the Drivers that are unsafe. if the road was a true dual carriageway it should then have central barriers but it is only a dual lane road. The difference being that a Dual carriageway has no side turnings and has to be treated with motorway rules and used as a single lane with and overtaking lane. This is a concept that does not exist in Malta or with most drivers here
Peter Murray
Nov 12th 2012, 11:37
So by your definition it actually transpires that all roads are unsafe -as no roads exist without Maltese drivers on them!
Gordon Cook
Nov 12th 2012, 14:04
Absolutely agree with this! It's the drivers that cause the majority of accidents not the roads!
Gordon Cook
Nov 12th 2012, 14:05
Absolutely agree with this! It's the drivers that cause the majority of accidents not the roads!
Peter Murray
Nov 12th 2012, 10:44
It is amazing how only a fatality prompts such trady and retrospective conclusions by TM.We are the epitomy of reaction as opposed to a more accountable pro-action.
Philip Grech
Nov 12th 2012, 10:25
TM is looking for some other excuse where to spend cash (and all that comes with it). The road was upgraded some years ago not in the 60s when some prehistoric remains were found near the scrapyard. There is nothing wrong with the road except maybe some crash barriers to avoid impact with the trees which stand in one of the few areas where they can exist without damaging any infrastructure.
Andrew Scicluna
Nov 12th 2012, 09:44
I agree that main roads should all have barriers to prevent fatal head on collisions Tal- Barrrani main road is no exceptional, but what about the recent constructed main roads that are extremely dangerous with nothing to prevent any head on collisions if someone lose control ends up the opposite side of the road , example Marsascala bypass, Hal Luqa to Qormi Zebbug , etc..
Mr Tony Gatt
Nov 12th 2012, 12:00
I have driven many times down the Marsascala by-pass and I think it is a fine road; safe except for lunatics who try to overtake in what can only be described as near-suicidal situations.
If only people would take in the saying "Speed Kills".
Chris Finch
Nov 12th 2012, 09:43
Nothing wrong with the road, it's how people drive along it. Wearing a seatbelt and driving according to road conditions is more likely to save you than the crash barriers.
Also worrying is the plan for ' the removal of those mature trees'. It seems some people won't be happy until the whole of Malta is covered n concrete.
Neville Cutajar
Nov 12th 2012, 12:01
You are right.
But a central barrier would minimise an accident to only one side of the road. At least who creates an accident suffers alone.
Alfred J. McEwen
Nov 12th 2012, 12:14
Alfred J. McEwen
You are right Mr. Finch redesigning the road is` nt a necessity and besides this man was not even wearing a seat belt according to reports. It would be far better if they utelise the money on resurfacing the awful coast road at Qajjenza and the road in front of Pretty Bay and the rest. The proposal is just another knee jerk reaction by those fools in TM.
W Cassar
Nov 12th 2012, 09:30
Any chance to remove trees!
Moira Heath
Nov 12th 2012, 11:51
How about we keep the trees and remove the people who can't drive?
Mr Tony Gatt
Nov 12th 2012, 17:02
There is a stretch of dual-carriageway near where I live (Chester) which looks uncannily like the one in the picture. Speed limit 40mph. I've never seen or heard of an accident on it in 20 years.
It's the drivers who need an upgrade, not the road.
Please choose the reason of your report below: