Residents of St Joseph Street and the surrounding roads in Marsascala are calling on the authorities to do something about heavy vehicles being allowed to drive wrong-way to reach a development site.

They said that while they were not against the development in the area, known as Ta' Monita, the authorities should ensure their health and safety and that of drivers using the busy streets there.

One resident said a few weeks ago a heavy vehicle smashed into a block of apartments. Luckily, he said, no one was injured but the accident was waiting to happen.

Similarly, about a year ago, a heavy vehicle also developed problems with the brakes and came to a halt against the beach railings. The truck could have ended up on the rocks.

When contacted, Marsascala mayor Mario Calleja said the council planned to install crash barriers in front of the block of apartments in question to serve as an extra safeguard in case anything happened again.

But the residents said they were facing dangers on a daily basis and the risks were being taken at their expense.

St Joseph Street is a very narrow road and, apart from being heavily used, has a one-way traffic system. However, heavy vehicles were given permission to drive through the wrong way in order to have easy access to the development site.

A no entry sign was placed at the beginning of the road but it also says: "Except for construction vehicles only".

The residents have sent several petitions to the authorities, including the local council and the Malta Transport Authority (ADT) but their pleas "fell on deaf ears".

They recommended that smaller and more adequate vehicles be used.

Mr Calleja said the council and the ADT had installed temporary traffic lights in Żonqor Street so heavy vehicles driving up St Joseph Street wrong way, would not find vehicles driving in the opposite direction. He said this was just a temporary solution until the development was completed in about 18 months' time.