Emergency and delivery services would have access to Valletta’s City Gate apartments once demolition works started in the area, Transport Malta said.

Earlier this week, residents of the block overlooking Freedom Square expressed concern that new traffic arrangements would mean ambulances, fire engines and other services might not be able to reach them.

The government housing block has entrances overlooking the square and Pope Pius V Road, above City Gate. When demolition works start on City Gate on May 2, this road, a main entry route into Valletta, will no longer be there. Residents feared this would mean access to their apartments, from a pathway accessed through Pope Pius V Road, would be closed, blocking out emergency and delivery services.

A Transport Malta spokesman said such services would have access to the block because Pope Pius V Street would not be completely demolished.

Temporary traffic arrangements would be in place as from May 1 until works on the opera house and Parliament Square are completed. Until then, vehicles rendering a service and emergency vehicles will enter the Hastings Gardens area through Castille Place, St Paul Street, Melita Street, a short stretch of Republic Street, Ordnance Street, around St John’s Cavalier and on to the remaining part of Pope Pius V Road outside the residential block. While there will be limited entry times for vehicles rendering services (such as gas delivery trucks and refuse collection trucks), emergency vehicles will be allowed access at all times.

Once work on the opera house and Parliament Square is completed, vehicles rendering a service and emergency vehicles would pass through Castille Place and Ordinance Street, the spokesman said.

According to new traffic arrangements, as from May 1, motorists entering Valletta will drive into the capital using two main routes: St Paul Street (near Auberge de Castille) and St Mark Street (further up from Biago Steps).

The road configuration within the city will remain largely the same, except for a few changes. Traffic through Archbishop Street will flow in the opposite direction to allow cars entering from St Paul Street to be able to cut through the capital. Residents close to City Gate and Hastings Gardens will be able to circle Vincenti Buildings through the narrow streets.