Restaurant owners in Salina say they are feeling “hopeless” and “desperate” as business grounds to an almost complete halt while works on the Coast Road continue for months on end.
“Since Christmas, things have just been going further and further downhill,” said Dominic Zammit, owner of Charlie’s Inn. “It’s got even worse since they turned off all the street lights from Magħtab to Salina and all the way up to St Paul’s Bay. At night, there’s nothing to indicate where you can go in or out. Customers are wary and they’re staying away.”
Mr Zammit said work on the project had only recently picked up again after proceeding at a snail’s pace for months, often with just a single worker at a time.
“I hope they’ll somehow help us get back on our feet. This restaurant has been operating for 80 years but now we’ve lost all our clients. It’s down to just a couple of loyal customers who somehow keep coming.”
Works on the €53 million Coast Road project began in April 2014. The section of road in Salina, originally scheduled to be completed before the summer, was delayed last February due to the discovery of archaeological remains.
Last month, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Joe Mizzi announced that the main stretch of the project would be completed by the end of July but work on Salina and the area next to Kennedy Grove would continue until November.
Manuel Attard, owner of Ta’ Cassia Salina, said getting to the restaurant had been nearly impossible for over three months and business had dwindled to just a couple of bookings.
“Access is a horror. Customers have no idea how to get in and the whole area is constantly covered in dust,” he said.
Residents of the nearly hamlet have also, for months, been complaining of problematic access.
TRANSPORT MALTA REACTION
In a reaction issued in the evening, Transport Malta said it is very sensitive and aware of the inconvenience caused to restaurants and residents in the area and is doing its utmost to complete the works in the shortest possible time.
"Transport Malta is committed to preserve the historical heritage unearthed during the project. These significant discoveries have delayed certain parts of the project follow rigorous procedures implemented, also under the constant supervision of the Superintendant of Cultural Heritage.
"The areas with commercial entities and residents are being given the highest priority so that they are completed first, whenever possible and with the least possible disturbance.”