Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1506016
10 NEWS maltatoday | SUNDAY • 20 AUGUST 2023 THE Msida Creek flyover project is set for approval in October by the Planning Authority as Infra- structure Malta issues the tender for the works. The Planning Authority on Fri- day scheduled its decision on the project for 12 October with the case officer recommending ap- proval. Meanwhile, Infrastructure Mal- ta announced the publication of the works tender for the Msida Creek project, which will include a bridge along the coastline linking Ta' Xbiex with Pietà, a 200-metre long bidirectional flyover link- ing Msida square with Regional Road, a landscaped carpark and a new square in front of the parish church. The project was first proposed in 2019 but plans were substan- tially revamped in 2022 to allocate more public spaces including a 2,200sq.m public square in front of the church and a water canal. Environmentalists had wel- comed the increase in public spaces but objected to the flyover as it still prioritised car traffic over other modes of travel. The case officer is recommend- ing the approval of the project claiming it will reduce the travel time for road users, improve mo- bility in this part of the road net- work and improve the connectiv- ity and safety of pedestrians that pass through this area, and also lessen traffic pollution from cen- tral Msida. Justification for flyover According to the case officer the proposed interventions will re- duce congestion by allowing free- flow traffic through grade-sep- arated lanes in a way which will improve the traffic flow towards Birkirkara and the Sliema/Gzira area for vehicles coming from Val- letta and vice versa. The introduction of the flyo- ver will allow continuous flow of traffic in each of these directions without affecting the other traffic flows. Apart from the flyover, the proposed junction upgrade in- cludes three lanes for eastbound vehicular traffic, whereby each lane shall cater for traffic coming from three different locations, in- cluding from Triq Ix-Xatt tal-Im- sida (i.e. from Pieta and Valletta), from Triq il-Wied tal-Imsida (i.e. from Birkirkara) and from Triq M.A. Vassalli (i.e. from Tal-Qroqq roundabout) and heading towards two directions i.e. Triq d'Argens (to Gzira, Ta' Xbiex and Sliema) and Triq Marina (to Pieta and Valletta). Vehicular traffic coming from Triq Marina will have a dedicated lane which allows traffic to turn around the new water channel, and either head back towards Triq Marina without changing lanes or head towards Triq d'Argens by changing lanes once. Traffic head- ing from Triq Marina towards Triq il-Wied tal-Imsida will have a dedicated lane. Vehicular traffic coming from Triq il-Wied tal-Imsida will al- so have a dedicated lane which branches out into two lanes: one for vehicles heading either to- wards Gzira/Sliema/Ta' Xbiex through Triq d'Argens, or towards Pieta/Valletta through Triq Mari- na by changing lanes once; and another lane for vehicular traffic heading up towards Tal-Qroqq roundabout through Triq M.A. Vassalli. The junction also provides for vehicular traffic heading down- hill through Triq M.A. Vassalli towards Triq d'Argens, whereby vehicular traffic will be routed through the slip road adjacent to the flyover and through a dedicat- ed lane without any interference with other traffic flows. Phasing of the project According to the case officer report, the project will be con- structed in three phases. The first phase will see the construction of the south ramp of the flyover; a carriageway between Triq il-Wied tal-Imsida and Triq Marina; and the construction of a bridge link- ing Ta' Xbiex and Pieta. A temporary traffic manage- ment plan will be implemented during this phase that will shift the vehicular traffic to one side of the site in order to open up space for the construction of part of the fly- over, mainly the South abutment and ramp leading to the flyover as well as a number of pillars sup- porting the same flyover. The second phase will see the construction of north ramp of the flyover; the completion of a car- riageway between Triq il-Wied tal-Imsida and Triq Marina; and the completion of the bridge from Ta' Xbiex to Pieta. This phase seeks to complete the flyover such that it can be opened up for traffic and used as part of other traffic management plans in subsequent phases. During this phase, works on the bridge connecting Ta' Xbiex with Pieta will also be completed to divert traffic onto it. The traf- fic lights junction in Phase 1 shall remain operational in Phase 2 to control conflicting traffic at Triq M.A. Vassalli c/w Triq il-Wied tal-Imsida. The last phase of the project will see the excavation and construc- tion of the water channel. This phase will see a major change in the temporary traffic management in this area as completed works in previous phases will divert traffic through them while allowing civil works to commence in previously occupied areas. Additionally, Triq Msida Creek flyover project set A massive project to re-engineer traffic in Msida Creek will include a large square in front of church, a new monument for Saint Joseph and a carpark. JAMES DEBONO leafed through the documentation