The merging of traffic from two lanes into one on the road leading to the Manoel Island bridge at Gżira will be controlled by a mechanism of traffic pre-signals activated by an approaching bus that will then be given priority.

The bus lane will be used by route buses, other public transport vehicles, motor cycles, taxis, electric and LPG vehicles and other high-occupancy vehicles, Transport Minister Joe Mizzi told Opposition MP Marthese Portelli in reply to a parliamentary question.

The minister said this would help to inculcate a culture of reducing dependency on private vehicles.

When Ċensu Galea (PN) asked on what basis it had been decided to have one kerbside lane of parking, one bus lane and one lane for other traffic, in the face of expert opinion that this would present grave dangers to the drivers of parked vehicles, Mr Mizzi said Transport Malta’s experts had gone by statistics and technicalities, following consultations.