A Labour government will allocate money for a pedestrian crossing at the Mriehel bypass in the next Budget, according to Joseph Muscat.

He said the pedestrian crossing was needed for the safety of a small community that was isolated from the rest of Qormi when the bypass was built in the 1990s.

"No community is small enough," he insisted, recalling that in 2010 Government MPs had voted against a motion put forward by Labour MPs from the district for the construction of a footbridge or underpass.

The issue gained notoriety when two teenage girls were killed in 2005 after they were run over while crossing the bypass to reach their houses. On various occasions the Government had pledged to build a footbridge but plans were scrapped in this legislature.

Dr Muscat was speaking inside the living room of a Qormi family that opened its house to his entourage and journalists because of the bad weather.

The Labour leader noted that Transport Minister Austin Gatt had argued against the footbridge because studies had shown only 40 people a day crossed the bypass. "This is a fallacious argument, especially coming from someone who built a bridge to nowhere in Grand Harbour that is used by no one."

Dr Muscat said Labour was committed to adopt the Budget presented last November and no funds were allocated for this project. However, he said in the next Budget to be presented at the end of this year, money will be found for the project.

He quantified the expense of a footbridge at almost €400,000 but insisted studies will have to be done to assess the best option between a bridge and an underpass.

The Qormi visit was Dr Muscat's third stop for the morning during which he continued laying out his party's proposals and commitments.

Asked when the party will roll out its complete manifesto, Dr Muscat said it will be unveiled "in the coming days".

"For now we will continue emphasizing key aspects of it every day and we will have other proposals on health and planning very soon," he said, adding all proposals formed part of a holistic plan that was costed.

Dr Muscat would not say which was the second district he will be contesting. "You will know soon enough," he replied. The Labour leader had announced last year his intention to contest the Second District but has kept the second candidature to himself.

ksansone@timesofmalta.com