Coast Road closure | Local council hits out at lack of traffic management

Coast road closure pushes traffic into San Gwann, Naxxar arteries. Video: Rachel Agius

The St. Paul’s Bay local council criticised the lack of traffic management to deal with the traffic flows caused by the complete closure of the Coast Road.

“It is unacceptable for this situation to repeat itself,” St Paul’s mayor Graziella Galea said in a statement, while calling on Transport Malta and the police to take immediate action to alleviate the situation. 

“The traffic situation in St. Paul’s Bay this morning was frightening, with cars practically at a gridlock and constant congestion, chaos and honking of horns,” Galea said.

“A mere statement calling on people to avoid the Coast Road was obviously not going to be enough to avoid problems faced today by people driving to and from St. Paul’s Bay, Mellieha, and Gozo.   

“Avoiding the Coast Road is not a solution as it will increase traffic in St. Paul’s Bay. Moreover, it is useless asking drivers to use alternative roads if those roads are packed with traffic.”

Commuters travelling from the North of the island were greeted with extreme traffic jams in arterial roads in Qawra, St. Paul's Bay and the Salini area, as the Coast Road was partially closed off to traffic for surfacing works.

The usually five minute-long trip from the Sunny Coast hotel in Qawra to the Erba’ Mwiezeb roundabout took some 45 minutes in all, and sources say that the situation hasn’t yet improved as the rush hour subsides.

Drivers who opted for the Salini and Telgha t' Alla U Ommu route rather than heading to Burmarrad, crawled all the way up to Naxxar as traffic accumulated and moved at a snail’s pace in the roads.

The dire traffic congestion also hindered drivers heading to the north from areas like Swieqi, Sliema and St. Julian’s, with substantial jams even in Tal- Balal road in San Gwann.

Drivers heading from Telgha t' Alla u Ommu are now being diverted away from the Birguma by-pass  once they make it up Telgha t'Alla u Ommu, and being encouraged to use Triq San Pawl to get to Naxxar.

Galea insisted that other solutions were available and suggested that the Coast Road works be carried out during the night.

“While it might take longer to complete, it won’t burden St. Paul’s Bay in such an exaggerated manner,” she said.

She also warned that solitary policeman who was deployed at the Erba Mwiezeb roundabout couldn’t control the traffic by himself and called on the Police Commissioner to increase police presence in the area.

The police have issued a statement to encourage drivers to avoid the area starting from Xemxija (by Beach Haven) through St Paul's Bypass followed by the roundabout know as tal-Erba Mwiezeb and Telgha T'Alla u Ommu including the surrounding areas.

“The Traffic Police are doing their utmost,” they said,  “but we also need your co-operation.”

Explaining that the traffic congestion is due to roadworks along the Coast Road, the police also encouraged those in the area who are at a stand still, to keep calm.

Transport Malta reacts

Transport Malta regrets the inconvenience caused with the closure of the Coast Road.  "The issues this morning highlight the importance of the Coast Road and hence our commitment to upgrade it," it said in a press release. 

"This road closure will improve the deadline by around three weeks and will avoid future total closures in more critical times."

Transport Malta urges drivers to avoid the area and use alternative routes, through Mġarr Bypass, Mosta and Birkirkara.

"Transport Malta is vigilant on the working contractors, who are collaborating fully. Works are on schedule and the road will be open again on Friday morning."