Transport Minister Joe Mizzi has held talks with Pat Cox, former president of the European Parliament and current Ten-T transport network coordinator about the need to improve traffic management and address traffic bottlenecks, particularly at the Addolorata junction area.

Mr Mizzi  highlighted the importance of the allocation of specific EU funds for this project.

The minister said the traffic bottleneck problem in this area was extending from the peak hours into other hours of the day. Furthermore, recent experience had shown that traffic accidents on Malta’s TEN-T core network could cause nationwide disruption to transport services.

During this meeting, Malta also made the case for stronger investment in the motorways of the seas connection between Italy and Malta and the need to keep regular, stable connections.

The meeting was held in Tallinn, where Mr  Mizzi participated in the TEN-T Days 2013 ministerial conference, chaired by the Vice-President of the EU Commission, Siim Kallas.

Whilst expressing Malta’s full commitment towards developing and finalising its core TEN-T network before the year 2030, Minister Mizzi stated that national planning is underway to develop and implement project pipelines that are aimed at alleviating traffic congestion.

He was accompanied by James Piscopo, Transport Malta Chairman and Jonathan Cardona, Chief of Staff at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, which is responsible for the allocation of EU funds.