Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1019972
NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 29 AUGUST 2018 2 JAMES DEBONO A planning application has been officially filed to regularise road widening works undertaken without a permit at Tal-Balal in San Gwann, putting the government in the same league as developers who un- dertake works 'illegally' before applying to sanction. According to official documents the application 07469/18 to "sanction road widening and realignment" was filed on 20 July. A reference to "sanctioning" only appeared on the PA website yesterday. This means that the application, which involves the take-up of ODZ land includ- ing agricultural land, will be assessed after the works have been completed in a repli- ca of what happened last year with similar works in Luqa. It also means that the Environment and Resources Authority will be consulted af- ter the completion of the works in ques- tion. Originally the application, which was published a few days ago, did not make any reference to "sanctioning" the fait ac- compli but simply called for the approval of the new road configuration. But on Monday, on the same day Malta- Today sent questions asking whether this application foresaw the sanctioning of the works which are already well underway, new plans were submitted foreseeing the sanctioning of the works which have been undertaken. In reply to the questions by MaltaTo- day, a spokesperson for Infrastructure Malta replied that the agency was col- laborating with the Planning Authority in the on-going planning procedures for the project's works outside the existing road space. "In view of the urgency and national im- portance of this upgrade, Infrastructure Malta is liaising with the Authority to swiftly complete these processes and en- sure that road users can start benefitting from this new infrastructure as soon as possible," the spokesperson said. Originally, Infrastructure Malta had told the Times of Malta that the project was being fast-tracked to ensure that road users can start benefitting from this new infrastructure in time before the begin- ning of the academic year in October". Infrastructure Malta falls under the authority of Infrastructure Minister Ian Borg, who is also responsible for the Plan- ning Authority. According to Infrastructure Malta, once the works are completed, travel time along Tal-Balal Road would be reduced by up to 40 percent while emissions would decline due to less congestion. The agency's spokesperson explained that the upgrade of the road was iden- tified as an essential intervention that needed to be urgently implemented to increase the capacity of this congested route and to reduce existing difficulties in commutes to and from nearby loca- tions, including the Mater Dei Hospital, the University of Malta and other nearby commercial, industrial and residential zones such as Gharghur, Tat-Targa, Bir- guma, Madliena and Ibrag. The project, extending from the Birgu- ma Bypass roundabout in Naxxar all the way to San Ġwann, comprises new lanes and facilities for cyclists, improved junc- tion designs and an upgraded street light- ing system. Build now, sanction later... Government applies to sanction Tal-Balal road-works