Angelo Xuereb insists on metro system, short-term solutions for morning traffic

AX Holdings chairman Angelo Xuereb reiterated his call for a monorail or metro system around the Grand Harbour and Cottonera areas while suggesting a number of short-term solutions

Angelo Xuereb was speaking during a conference on sustainable development in Malta, organised by the German Maltese Business Council and the Malta Chamber of Commerce • Photo by Chris Mangion
Angelo Xuereb was speaking during a conference on sustainable development in Malta, organised by the German Maltese Business Council and the Malta Chamber of Commerce • Photo by Chris Mangion
Photo: Chris Mangion/MaltaToday
Photo: Chris Mangion/MaltaToday

A number of short-term solutions - such as delaying outpatient appointments at Mater Dei hospital from 7:00am to 9:00am, and delaying the opening of the University of Malta, Junior College, MCAST and other institutions to after 9:00am - would alleviate traffic congestion in business rush hours, while more complex, long-term projects are implemented, according to AX Holdings chairman Angelo Xuereb.

Xuereb was speaking during a conference on sustainable development in Malta, organised on Thursday by the German Maltese Business Council and the Malta Chamber of Commerce.

Xuereb said government could also consider introducing a cap on the number of cars on the road, whereby anyone buying a new car would have to turn in an older car before being issued the new vehicle.

Photo: Chris Mangion/MaltaToday
Photo: Chris Mangion/MaltaToday
Photo: Chris Mangion/MaltaToday
Photo: Chris Mangion/MaltaToday

“The creation of new exit lanes on approaches to major roundabouts would ease traffic considerably and counter the congestion created by numerous bottlenecks and one-lane roads on the local network,” he added.

Xuereb said that in the medium term, a few more by-passes needed to be creates and some major junctions designed, including a new by-pass to link the Mosta by-pass to the Birkirkara one outside the towns' built-up areas.

A bridge linking Salina to Qawra and a new by-pass in Burmarrad, replacing the current one-lane road passing through the village centre, should also be considered, he said.

As for the long term, Xuereb reiterated his call for a monorail or metro system around the Grand Harbour and Cottonera areas that could be further extended to reach the airport, Mater Dei Hospital and even Cirkewwa.

This would be complemented by an improved network of buses, taxis and ferries to provide a sustainable system, particularly around Valletta and Floriana.

Such a project, if implemented to its full potential, would cost around €500 million, which could be part-financed by the EU, Xuereb said.