Traffic through St Anne Street, in Floriana has shot up by at least 300 more vehicles an hour in peak times due to ongoing road works, according to Transport Malta.

The road, which handles the majority of Valletta-bound traffic, has been facing more traffic jams as major works go on around the capital city. The principal cause is the works at Xatt l-Għassara tal-Għeneb in Marsa, according to a spokesman for the transport watchdog.

“These force anyone wanting to drive to that area to use St Anne Street and the War Memorial junction to drive down to the harbour side. An extra 300 vehicles are estimated to be making the turn during peak hours alone,” the spokesman said.

St Anne Street was already a pollution hot spot well before the extra traffic started flowing through its lanes. The nitrogen oxide level, which contributes to respiratory diseases, was last year 81 micrograms per cubic metre, double the 40 microgram limit value, while benzene levels reached 5.67 micrograms per cubic metre, still higher than the five microgram limit.

In addition, more cars entering the city have to turn left to Marsamxetto Road to access the Marsamxett side of Valletta because the road linking Castille Place to Hastings was demolished with the rest of City Gate.

To further prolong the trip into Valletta, traffic at roundabouts – which usually has right of way – is being halted to make way for the aquamarine Arriva buses as they struggle to meet deadlines.

“Transport Malta coordinates with enforcement agencies and the transport operator to ensure critical traffic hot spots are managed in the most effective way possible and, where necessary, giving priority to buses,” the spokesman said.

“There can be no doubt that the exit of the main bus station on the island requires some form of priority for public transport, especially during peak traffic times.

“Delays for an exiting bus bring about delays downstream in the provision of public transport service that need to be minimised as much as possible. This is the point of bus lanes, priority exits from interchange points and other priority measures on the road,” the spokesman added.