The Transport Ministry said today that sewage works at Kennedy Drive as part of the Coast Road project have been completed earlier than planned, and that part of the road has been reopened.

However traffic from the Pembroke area towards St Paul’s Bay still has to proceed through Maghtab, up Telgha t’Alla u Ommu and down to Burmarrad because of works in Salina. The deviation is expected to last three months.

The road near Kennedy Grove

The works at Kennedy Drive involved the digging of a two-metre deep trench for new sewage pipes to be laid across the road. The works had forced total closure of that part of the road, but they have now been completed and the road reopened.

The ministry said Coast Road widening works in that area have also been completed up to the first stage of the tarmac surface. Traffic is being allowed through.

The ministry explained, however, that the works at Salina, the narrowest part of the Coast Road are proceeding with caution because of the discovery of archaeological remains.

Meanwhile, the owner of the bird park in Salina, Kevin Mallia, was rushed to hospital on Friday after suffering a panic attack believed to have been caused by pressure ever since the Coast Road works cut off access to his livelihood back in August.

He said that last Friday he ventured out but later on was literally unable to make his way back.

Policemen and Transport Malta officials told him they had orders to not allow anyone to pass through.

He was unable to pass from Triq is-Salini, from the side road by Piscopo Gardens in Burmarrad as well as the t’Alla w’Ommu junction leading to Triq il-Burmarrad.

At the Coast Road, he spotted Transport Malta architects and had an intense argument.

On the advice of his lawyer, Mr Mallia headed to the Qawra police station to file a report and then passed out. An ambulance rushed him to hospital.

“I just flipped – I was utterly distraught. It was the last straw after mounting financial pressure. Since road works began in August, sales have declined by 90 per cent,” he said.

When the Kennedy Drive road works kicked off in August, access to vehicles and pedestrians was closed off. Tourists, especially those coming from the direction of Buġibba and St Paul’s Bay, could not get to the bird park.

Visitors were told by workers to take a 5.6 kilometre detour.

It was only on October 21, after several meetings with contractors and architects involved in the project, that access was temporarily granted.

Last month, Mr Mallia filed a judicial protest against the Transport Ministry, Transport Malta and the Police Commissioner claiming damages he suffered as a result of the project. Just before Christmas, he had to sack his two full-timers.

The extensive advertising he had undertaken among Buġibba and Qawra hotels had been rendered completely futile because hotels no longer promoted the bird park due to the complaints they started receiving.

Yesterday, two signs were installed, stating that no entry was allowed accept to access the bird park.

“I don’t know what’s next. I still have to feed the birds,” he said.

“Luckily, I have some volunteers who have offered their help – I don’t know what would happen without them.

“I understand that the road works need to be carried out. But it has all been grossly mismanaged. “Transport Malta needed a plan. Why is action only taken following arguments? It’s not the way to go about it.”