A kilometre-long row of trees along the Addolorata hill in Paola will have to make way for a €20 million project to widen the road and build an underpass at Santa Luċija roundabout.
The project will also result in the loss of a significant stretch of agricultural land in Tal-Ħorr Valley, which separates Addolorata Cemetery and the overlooking dwellings in Paola.
Unveiled last September, the project is meant to complement the new multi-level junction under construction at the foot of the Addolorata hill in Marsa.
They are part of a plan to mitigate traffic congestion there.
The proposed underpass will consist of a double lane in both directions, with the objective being to improve traffic flows from Tal-Barrani Road to Santa Luċija Avenue, popularly known as the Addolorata hill.
The Transport Ministry last month announced that a tender had been issued for the construction of the tunnel. However, no development permit has yet been issued by the Planning Authority.
According to the plans submitted so far, nearly all of the existing mature trees on both sides of this arterial thoroughfare will be uprooted, with the rest earmarked for transplanting.
It transpired that the two rows of trees on either side of the Addolorata hill, Palm Street junction upwards, covering 650 metres, will have to be removed. This operation will be necessary in view of the fact that the road will be widened to include a concrete shoulder on the left-hand side, while encroaching on Il-Ħorr Valley to make way for the new carriageway design.
The majority of trees on the other side of the junction, along the upper part of Tal-Barrani Road, will be removed and planted elsewhere, with the rest being uprooted.
In its submissions, the Environment and Resources Authority said it had no issues on the tunnel proposal but expressed concern on other aspects, particularly the provision of a service lane along Santa Luċija Avenue (downhill to Marsa). This would result in considerable land take-up at the expense of terraced agricultural land in Tal-Ħorr Valley, the watchdog said.
The widening of the existing road would also result in further encroachment on the remaining rural land, it noted.
The ERA is calling on Transport Malta to address its concern by changing the design. However, no such concern was expressed on the uprooting of mature trees except that, in some cases, the ERA’s authorisation would be required because some of the species are protected.
The project will also necessitate the demolition of a number of buildings and structures overlooking the valley.
A few years ago, plans for the removal of mature trees as part of the Coast Road upgrading had fuelled an uproar. Subsequently, plans were modified to minimise the number of uprooted trees.