Marsa-Ħamrun bypass bottleneck to be tackled

Works to improve another main route which connects central localities to others in the North through arterial roads in Mrieħel, Attard and in the Ta’ Qali area will begin shortly, Transport Minister Ian Borg said yesterday.

Borg also said that works will take place in the area between Qormi and Luqa and will focus on the rebuilding of the roundabout near the St Vincent de Paule retirement home in the main road which leads to Qormi from Luqa, based on more improved planning.

Work on this roundabout in Luqa, which connects four main roads — namely Qormi Road, Ħal Farruġ Road, Ingiered Road and Luqa Road — will reduce journey times while also reducing the risk of accidents.

The approach lanes leading to the same roundabout will be increased, and two new bypass lanes will be built, which will allow passing from Qormi Road to Ingiered Road, and from Luqa Road to Ħal Farruġ Road without the need to use the same roundabout.

The Minister added that there will also be the widening the main roads connecting this roundabout to the roundabout near the airport, which was also rebuilt from scratch last year.

All trees being removed because of work will be replanted and, where possible, works are being done during the night to cause minimal disruption.

This project signals the completion of another phase of the work which started last summer, and which led to the improvement of main roundabouts and junctions across the route which connects Kirkop and surrounding localities and Gudja, Luqa and Qormi in the direction of Marsa and Valletta. Calculations show that as a result of these works, journey time when passing through this route has already gone down by around 30%.

Architects and engineers will continue studying and evaluating the results of this investment so that, where and if necessary, other adjustments can be made.

The two Qormi roundabouts now have additional lanes so that vehicles can pass through them in less time. Works were also carried out to widen Qormi Road, in the direction from Żebbuġ to Marsa, as well as Manwel Dimech Road, which connects the two roundabouts. These two roads now have additional lanes which reduce difficulties for those who pass through them.

Around 2,300 passenger cars and 300 larger vehicles, such as buses, trucks and construction machinery, pass through these roundabouts every hour, especially during peak hours in the morning and late in the afternoon.

The coming weeks will also see the beginning of an extensive project to remove the current bottleneck in the Marsa-Ħamrun Bypass, Borg said.