The controversial Tal-Balal Road widening project has been delayed further, and may not be completed by the end of the year even though it was originally expected to be ready by the start of last month.  

This was confirmed by Infrastructure Malta CEO Frederick Azzopardi during an onsite visit which he paid on Wednesday afternoon in the presence of Transport Minister Ian Borg. 

The €4 million project has been mired in controversy after if transpired that works to widen this arterial thoroughfare from San Gwann to Naxxar had started without a permit. Furthermore, owners of private land affected by this project had complained that their property had been expropriated without them even knowing. 

Addressing the media, the Transport Minister spoke at length on the nature of the ongoing works, saying this project would reduce travel time by about 40 per cent and cut emissions significantly.

Minister downplays permit problems

Asked about the fact that this project had set a dangerous precedent as a State entity had disregarded planning procedures rather than lead by example, Dr Borg downplayed the matter.

He insisted that the State agency had not waited to have a permit in hand before starting, on the grounds that in the original plans, no encroachment outside the existing footprint would have been required as only one lane was going to be added. However, midway through the project, Infrastructure Malta decided to double the project by adding another lane, and hence an application was filed. 

When it was pointed out that the decision to make such a drastic change at a very late stage suggested lack of planning, the agency’s CEO insisted that this was not the case.

Asked about the timeframe for the project’s completion which had already been postponed to this month, Mr Azzopardi said that efforts were being made to finish the project by the end of the year. Yet, he acknowledged that even this deadline could be missed, citing possible disruptions caused by inclement weather.