Traffic congestion should be expected due to the Valletta Summit, but commuters could use the next few days as an opportunity to test alternative means of transport, according to a leading taxi operator.

Ecabs managing director Matthew Bezzina said his company had been inundated with calls in the last few days by commuters anxious about how long their journeys could take during the summit.

Most roads in Valletta and Floriana will be closed for the duration of the event, while others around Malta willbe closed temporarily while dignitaries pass through.

Mr Bezzina said the situation could be exacerbated, as most taxi operators will have their vehicles tied up with the summit itself and will not be able to service the actual demand being generated on that day.

However, he said the good weather, coupled with the fact that people were forewarned about possible congestion, meant many would be creative in finding alternative means of transport or working from home if possible.

As concerns continue to mount over the planned traffic arrangements, several Valletta residents contacted this newspaper expressing their frustration at being effectively locked inside their homes.

Mayor Alexei Dingli has already criticised the decision, which he said was a blow to businesses and was taken without any consultation.

Among others, the closures are setto affect a major side-event to the summit being organised in the city by local and international migration organisations.

The public transport operator announced yesterday that, with the exception of the Valletta circular route, there were no planned diversions or interruptions to the service.

However, public transport buses could suffer delays along certain routes when specific roads are closed to traffic temporarily to allow the safe passage of visiting dignitaries.

A spokesman for the MCP car park in Floriana also confirmed that, despite reports last week, the car park would be open to both members and non-members for the duration of the summit.

The ferry service between Sliema and Valletta will also operate as usual, although the operator drew attention to a Transport Malta notice restricting navigation in certain designated zones.

In addition, the service from Cospicua to Valletta will not operate on Wednesday between 5.15pm and 6.30pm, on Thursday between 7.30am and 9.45am, and again between 12.45am and 2pm.

Meanwhile, Transport Malta announced that it had set up a freephone service to handle queries associated with traffic arrangements.

The freephone number 80072309 will be in operation from today.