Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1333591
9 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 27 JANUARY 2021 NEWS JAMES DEBONO A Social Impact Assessment on a project set to include two 175m flyovers and three pedestrian bridges has not yet been com- missioned on a call for tenders for the proposed Msida flyover. The Msida Creek Project fore- sees the reconstruction of the junction connecting the Marina, Valley and Mikiel Anton Vas- salli roads, and the upgrading of nearby junctions with other roads leading to and from Gżira, Sliema and Ta' Xbiex. Over 4,500 vehicles go through the Msida Creek traffic lights junction every hour to travel to and from Valletta and other nearby localities while thou- sands of pedestrians including students use the traffic lights. Social impact assessments are meant to assess the impact of major infrastructural projects on communities through quantita- tive surveys and interviews with residents and stakeholders, with recommendations on how to as- sess concerns. Although there are no clear guidelines on when an SIA should be conducted, IM had commissioned an SIA at the early stages of the Central Link project. Infrastructure Malta has told MaltaToday it has held numer- ous consultations with the Msi- da and Pietà councils, and that it will continue consulting differ- ent stakeholders. "IM will also duly commission all studies that will be requested by the planning and environmental authorities during this process." IM has already finalised a Traf- fic Impact Study and a Road Safe- ty Audit "to ensure that the new infrastructure can efficiently and safely meet the current and fu- ture transport requirements in this area", which "considered the impacts of the proposed project and its new infrastructure, in- cluding footbridges, on all road users, including pedestrians". The studies have yet not been published on the PA's website. A call for tenders for the pro- ject has already been published, while the planning application was still at the screening stage. IM claims the proposed road design will eliminate traffic-light waiting times and reduce travel times and accident risks, whilst improving air quality in this part of Msida and other nearby areas. But a coalition of 10 NGOs and academics warned that the fly- overs dissecting the square will penalise the most vulnerable people and local communities. The NGOS warned that the use of lifts and stairs to cross the bridges above the vehicular traf- fic will further hinder the move- ment of those choosing to cycle, while penalising persons with reduced mobility including peo- ple with a pushchair or young child, "forcing them back to cars as a transportation mode". One of the pedestrian bridg- es will provide access from the bus layby along the southbound carriageway of Triq il-Marina, towards Triq il-Baċir, along the route used by many students to get to the Junior College. The second one will connect the Par- ish Church area with the new public garden next to the Work- ers' Memorial. A third pedestri- an bridge will connect the new parking area and the new public garden in the Workers' Memo- rial area. IM said the elevators of the three bridges will be spacious enough to fit bicycles, wheel- chairs and pushchairs. To en- sure their reliability, IM will enter into an extensive service contract for the maintenance and upkeep of these elevators, which will provide for a rapid response service in case of ma- chinery breakdown as well as regular maintenance during off peak hours, with least possible inconveniences to commuters. The design of the three bridges was also updated to include bi- cycle stair access ramps, in case the elevators are not available. The project also includes "a new seafront cycling and walk- ing track connecting Pieta with Ta' Xbiex", to give pedestrians "the highest level of road safety when travelling from this part of Msida to several other nearby areas". IM also claims the project will benefit pedestrians by separat- ing the major traffic flows from the local traffic flow movements by segregating them on two lev- els. "This reduces the potential conflicts with other local traffic, pedestrians, public transport commuters and cyclists. It will also transform this urban space because the major flow will be separated at another level, leav- ing the Msida Creek open space more accessible for local com- muting." Overall, according to IM, the new junction "will improve the quality of the commute experi- ence of thousands of road users by reducing congestion and re- lated noise and air pollution." But NGOs have expressed their disappointment that the project as proposed does not maximise existing open spaces by enlarg- ing the kiosk areas, which are popular in the summer months, "with the sound of tombola numbers echoing in the summer nights". Instead the NGOs have pro- posed that the project be limited to an improved public transport interchange, coupled with a ma- jor public open space, as sug- gested in the local plan. IM insists that although the public garden will be relocat- ed, the total area of green open spaces, partly overshadowed by the new flyovers, will increase from the current 7,250 square metres to 8,008 square metres. According to IM the existing public garden and playing field will be rebuilt in a new design, in collaboration with the Msida council. The existing premises of the Msida Bocci Club will remain in the same location and will be rebuilt with the support of an- other government entity. The project also includes a massive 3,716sq.m car park that in- cludes the new bus interchange. This will increase the current 82 parking bays to 120 by opti- mising existing spaces, with also accommodating a new bus inter- change. IM said the redesign of the public garden and parking area is necessitated by the need of a new stormwater system to alle- viate the long-standing flooding problem in the area, which re- quires certain ground levels to be raised. IM spokesperson insists three pedestrian bridges instead of Msida traffic lights will provide pedestrians with the highest level of road safety No social impact assessment yet for Msida flyovers The Msida Creek project proposed by Infrastructure Malta will see the construction of two massive flyovers to remove the traffic lights junction. A coalition of NGOs wants the plans scrapped to prioritise open space and pedestrians instead