Chopping down Holm Oak trees in Lija to make way for a new lane of traffic was an unpopular but necessary decision to take, Transport Minister Ian Borg said today. 

In comments laying out the government's busy roadworks schedule for the summer months, Dr Borg said during morning and evening rush hours around 2,400 vehicles passed through the section of road being widened.  

READ: Transport Malta slammed for hacking down trees in Lija

Although authorities would have rather not cut down the trees or removed several parking spaces, these decisions were "necessary in order for this road to be appropriately equipped for the large influx of traffic it sees every day," the minister said. 

Transport Malta's decision to hack down the trees was roundly condemned by residents and concerned citizens irked by what they felt was a blatant disregard for Malta's natural environment.

The Environment Ministry and environmental regulator ERA both defended the decision, saying that Holm Oak trees were not protected in that area and that no permit was needed to chop them down. 

Dr Borg was speaking during a press call announcing that two lanes of the Kappara Junction would be opened to traffic this evening, with Transport Malta CEO James Piscopo by his side.

Ian Borg at today's press conference. Photo: DOI/Omar Camilleri

The minister used the occasion to list some of the other roadworks projects underway or in the pipeline. 

Work being done on the airport roundabout is expected to be completed in August, while roadworks will soon begin to improve access to the Mosta Technopark roundabout and the area linking the Marsa race-course and St Vincent de Paul hospital, the minister said.