Transport Malta is being sued for damages after the owners of a Kappara villa argued that the construction of the flyover at the town's junction would drastically reduce their property's value.

John and Isabelle Azzopardi, who own a fully detached villa in Triq l-Alwett, and who have been living there for the past 11 years, have complained that the flyover will cause them to suffer "considerable damages".

The villa comprises two plots which face and protrude over Regional Road. The plaintiffs have obtained technical advice stating that, in terms of elevation, the flyover structure will reach the rear part of their villa, therefore "drastically reducing" the property's value.

Preparatory works for the €22.5 million projects transforming the congested Kappara junction into a flyover kicked off last month. The project is set to take 77 weeks to complete.

Apart from the construction of the separated junction itself, the project includes the construction of merging and diverging lanes to connect the overpass with the adjoining roads, road construction works including underground infrastructure and street furniture works, the shifting of existing services and installation of new services infrastructure, as well as the design and building of other structures.

After a legal letter sent to the authority went ignored, the plaintiffs decided to open a court case, requesting the court to order the authority to liquidate damages.

The sworn application was signed by lawyer Edward Gatt.