‘No delays’ in Kappara junction project, transport minister insists

● Inauguration to take place this Thursday

Transport and Infrastructure Minister Ian Borg said that the Kappara junction project has not overrun its pre-stipulated deadline, contrary to media reports.

He was responding to a parliamentary question by Labour Party MP Alex Muscat.

The project was slated to be completed by the end of last year but, as of yesterday, the area was still a flurry of activity, with dozens of workers in hardhats buzzing around. Concrete mixers could also be seen and the roundabout below the flyover was still dotted with red and white traffic barriers.

Some of the overhead signs are also missing and workers were up to a few days ago still working on the lighting and sound barriers.

Borg said that by the New Year, the flyover and all other roads, barring the one providing access from San Ġwann to St Julian’s, were open to traffic.

He decried criticism of the Kappara junction project, saying that the way it was handled has garnered the respect of the public.

“The project will be inaugurated on Thursday. This project remained within the parameters of its budget and schedule,” he insisted.

He reminded the House that government had given a summer deadline for the flyover to be open to the public, which it was in August 2017, and that all roads needed to be ready by the end of 2017.

Borg said that in fact, all roads had been completed by December 2017.

“The only road that was not open to the public, but was ready, was the one providing access from San Ġwann to St Julian’s. The reason is not because it was not ready, but because the government decided in order to truly safeguard the integrity of a wall propping up various residences, we needed to provide further protection, which is why we have taken longer.”

He said that the contract for the project ends this coming February, after than no other works will be taking place. Currently, the company contracted to do the landscaping is carrying out its duties, in time for this Thursdays’ inauguration ceremony.

He added that it is the only project which has had sound barriers installed in order to mitigate unpleasant noise and inconvenience to surrounding residents.