Muscat pledges footbridge for Mriehel bypass

Labour leader Joseph Muscat promised Qormi residents that a Labour government would commission a study to choose the most feasible option between a footbridge or an underpass for the Mriehel bypass.

Triq is-Sebh, more commonly known as the Mriehel bypass, was the location of a deadly accident which saw two young residents from Qormi lose their lives while trying to cross. Graziella Fenech and Emma Marie Housley were run over and killed on 21 August 2005, by then 23-year old Ivan Cutajar.

Despite it being promised for quite some time, and a development permit was issued for it, government opted against building a footbridge because only an average of 42 persons a week cross from it.

"And because only 42 people cross the road, the Nationalist government, including MPs elected from this district voted against our motion," Muscat said, addressing the press and a handful of residents. The press conference was held inside the house of a generous resident who took pity on the members of the press  - and Muscat - who were standing outside in the rain.

"The area is growing and it is irresponsible to leave these residents without a safe connection to the rest of the locality. Placing barricades is not the solution to try and avoid traffic accidents," he said.

Muscat said that for some, this might seem like a small project - with a footbridge estimated to cost around €360,000 - but it was necessary. Muscat said that if studies showed the footbridge was the most viable solution, it would take between eight to 12 months to build.

Muscat insisted that like the PN administration "built a bridge to nowhere, we will make sure to build this one".

Meanwhile, Muscat also said that the Labour's electoral manifesto will be published "in the coming days". He said that the PL wanted to continue focusing on particular issues like health, culture and economy.