Former Planning Authority chairman and Attard resident Austin Walker described the new bypass project in the locality as a quick fix that would come at a big environmental and financial cost.
According to plans published last month in the press, the projected 1.3 kilometre bypass will link the lower part of Mdina Road, close to the Mrieħel bypass exit, to the Attard industrial zone entrance opposite the Wied Inċita nursery. It is meant to alleviate traffic congestion in the village core, particularly the bottleneck at Triq in-Nutar Żarb.
The project will consist in widening and linking together three residential roads located on the village outskirts overlooking Wied is-Sewda: Triq Oliver Agius, Triq Ferdinand Inglott and Triq Tumas Chetcuti.
Mr Walker raised his objections during a meeting held a few days ago. Organised by Transport Malta on the insistence of the Attard local council, the meeting was also addressed by Enemalta executive chairman Frederick Azzopardi, who will be heading the new Roads Agency.
Mr Walker, who headed the then Malta Environment and Planning Authority between 2008 and 2013, attended in his capacity as a resident, since his property is located along the route of the new bypass. Some of those present contacted the Times of Malta complaining that, rather than a consultation meeting, it appeared to be more of an information session. Mr Walker agreed when this newspaper sought his reaction.
Flagging his interest in the issue, he acknowledged that the traffic situation, especially the Triq Nutar Żarb bottleneck, needed attention. He echoed the frustration of other residents who felt Transport Malta was very dismissive of the possible alternative solutions floated during the meeting.
Making a decision overnight, seemingly without any consideration of alternatives, suggests there might be other interests or this is just a quick fix
“One of the ideas put forward was to explore the option of a tunnel that would have a much less adverse environmental impact and possibly be a more cost-effective solution, because there would be no need to expropriate vast areas at taxpayer expense,” Mr Walker said.
He continued that although those present for the meeting were told Transport Malta was taking note of their suggestions, the impression they got was that decisions had already been made.
Mr Walker wondered whether the transport watchdog had taken into consideration other options, including better traffic management. He noted that traffic coming from Żebbuġ could be diverted directly to the lower part of Triq in-Nutar Żarb rather than heading upwards, easing some of the congestion from the notorious bottleneck further up the road.
“Though this bypass follows the route of a schemed road which was planned over 30 years ago, making a decision overnight, seemingly without any consideration of alternative solutions, suggests there might be other interests or that this is just a quick fix,” Mr Walker said.
The Attard local council has not made a statement on the project.
Mayor Stefan Cordina declined to comment when contacted, saying the matter would be discussed at a forthcoming meeting.