Investment in good roads has always been a priority. First of all the use of efficient and safe roads makes economic and environmental sense. Secondly, it is also a means to generate economic activity especially in times of economic slowdown.

The European Union has integrated our national road network within the European Road Network and therefore funds have been earmarked to upgrade our major roads, mainly linking existing ones to complete the road network grid across Malta and Gozo.

There are several areas where this linking has not yet been completed. One example is linking Mrieħel bypass to Valletta Road - bypassing Attard and leading to the north of Malta.

The two existing roads around Attard Farm Supplies have become a commercial area with all kinds of outlets offering many kinds of services. Notary Zarb Street goes through a villa designated area (although building permits for maisonettes are now coming out like mushrooms) and is not suitable for heavy or light, continuous traffic. There are three pedestrian crossing lights, a commercial centre, private and public schools and road links to Żebbuġ.

In situations like these the solution seems to be an underground tunnel to bypass this particular area of Attard. The project should be able to link Valletta Road from Wied Inċita Nursery up to the road crossing to San Anton Palace.

The government is currently considering a big investment on the Għadira Road, a tunnel for Xemxija and Mellieħa and a very expensive underground water catchment system. Most of these projects will be paid for through EU funds. I would suggest that due to the controversy surrounding some of these projects, priority is given to finding a sustainable solution to the continuous traffic jams at Attard and at the same time give the residents of this area the peace they once enjoyed.

I am quite certain that the Malta Transport Authority has the capacity to design a modern and sustainable solution to this old issue that is expensive to maintain in economic and environment terms.