The Valletta-bound lane of the Kappara junction will be opened to traffic this week as tarmacking of the surface has been completed, a Transport Malta spokesman said.

The €23 million project may have taken years to get going, but so far it is proceeding on time.

The junction is scheduled to be completed by the end of summer – just in time for the back-to-school rush.

The project was dreaded by commuters, who knew that some pain was inevitable if there was to be long-term gain.

But the closure of the junctions leading to Gżira and Kappara – the former accounts for 48 per cent of the traffic – saw drivers take to other routes set up for the closure.

The project aims to cut traffic in the area by half and will be used by a staggering 90,000 vehicles every day. 

The project is not limited to the junction structure and an extra 100 parking spaces have been created by the National Pool, as well as a rain catchment system to help reduce flooding.

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