Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/989894
5 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 JUNE 2018 JAMES DEBONO TRAFFIC along Triq il-Miss- joni Taljana in Kalkara could increase from the current daily average of 3,978 cars to a stag- gering 22,151 cars after the completion of all the develop- ment envisaged at Smart City – most of which was approved in 2009. This emerges from the Envi- ronment Impact Assessment for the Shoreline project, a 12-storey commercial and residential development over 35,000sq.m of land transferred by Smart City Malta from oth- er areas of its project. The original Traffic Impact Assessment for the project car- ried out in 2007 had been based on the assumption that a new link road to Smart City would pass through agricultural land in Zabbar. But this develop- ment is now considered "un- likely" according to the EIA. The majority of traffic will ap- proach as well as leave Smart City from the direction of Kalkara, via Triq Santa Liberta, Triq il-Missjoni Taljana, and Triq Santu Rokku. On its own, the proposed Shoreline development will contribute to an increase of 1,350 new car trips along Triq il-Missjoni Taljana, over and above what has been approved at Smart City in 2009. Apart from the Shoreline, the Planning Authority is current- ly considering an application to revise the Smart City mas- terplan. No reference is made to these changes in the traffic calculations included in the Shoreline EIA. Changes proposed to the Smart City masterplan fore- see a dramatic increase of 185,864sq.m in the developable floor space of the whole pro- ject, over and above what was originally approved in 2008. Air quality impacts related to the increase in traffic related to the Shoreline development are considered negligible in most cases and moderate in a few cases. Constructed over 12 levels, the Shoreline development in- cludes apartments and a two- storey commercial complex with retail shops and a super- market partially located below ground, and a three-storey un- derground car park. The EIA indicates that west- bound traffic along Triq San Dwardu will increase from the current 13,435 to 24,008 and eastbound traffic along the same road will increase from the current 14,665 to 23,503 as a result of the combined effect of the development approved in 2009 and the Shoreline de- velopment. Traffic along Triq San Nikola in Bormla will increase from the present 17,441 to 24,758. Traffic along Triq Ghajn Dwie- li will increase from the current 26,130 to 34,446. The transfer of residential and commercial space from other areas of Smart City to the Shoreline project now means that the project may be ap- proved before the masterplan is changed. How Smart city will change Xghajra views The Shoreline project will have an adverse impact on coastal views from the Xgħajra promenade according to the EIA. But the visual impact of the Shoreline development will be somewhat screened by development approved in 2009 which is still to be constructed. The panoramic view from the Xgħajra coastal promenade towards Smart City is pres- ently dominated by an existing Smart City building and the open views of the rocky coast- line. The Shoreline development on its own will introduce a large building on the coast. But the building will only be par- tially visible amongst the rest of the development already ap- proved as part of the original Smart City project, although it rises higher than adjacent buildings closer to the coast. The Smart City development will also have a considerable impact on views from both Fort Rinella and Fort Ricasoli. Presently the view from these two historical locations con- sists of semi-natural and rural environment with the Smart City development in the back- ground. The Shoreline will rise behind the ridge, but this impact will be eclipsed by de- velopment approved in 2009 which still has to take place. The coastal view of Kalkara from the Chalet in Sliema will also change significantly with the Shoreline development having a marked impact. jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt NEWS Five-fold increase in traffic in Kalkara after Smart City completion Cumulative visual impact at the completed Smart City project as seen from Kalkara (top) and middle and bottom, as seen from the Xghajra coast, without and with Smart City