Roads agency accused of using bicycle lanes as an excuse to take up more agriculture land in Mrieħel

Updated at 3:45 pm with Infrastructure Malta reaction 

Infrastructure Malta is using cycling infrastructure as a pretext to take up more land for widening roads, NGO Rota said. 

The cycling NGO was reacting to plans by the government agency to create a flyover structure to ensure safer access to and from the Mrieħel industrial estate onto the bypass.

However, the proposed project will also take up agricultural land equivalent to the size of three football grounds.

In its reaction to protests by farmers and environmental NGOs to the project, IM said “​additional land is also required for a new cycle lane and footpath along the same bypass, which does not currently have any facilities for alternative modes of travel.”

But the cycling NGO said that on 22 October last year it was shown proposed plans for the flyover which would see a cycle lane on the side of the industrial estate and residential area. At the time, no additional land take-up was mentioned, it added.

Rota had also suggested several proposals to ensure the cycling connections between Qormi and Mrieħel would remain accessible and rendered safe. It had also suggested the proposed roundabout design would prioritise pedestrian and bicycle traffic.

A few weeks later, on 16 of November, the NGO was informed by IM that the cycle lane was to be removed from the inner side, and against Rota’s advice, redesigned on the periphery next to the fields.

“Rota had then informed Infrastructure Malta that this proposal was unacceptable as it would become useless and unsafe for people travelling by bicycles,” it said. 

Rota's proposed plans

The NGO said the taking up of agricultural land was not needed for the project. “It has unfortunately become clear that Infrastructure Malta is only using cycling infrastructure as a pretext to take up more land for road widening without considering the needs of the users for this infrastructure.” 

The NGO also proposed plans from its end which would see the integration of bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. 

Rota’s plans see each lane’s width reduced to 3.25 metres, instead of the current 3.5 metres. It also sees the proposed three-lane format reduced to two-lanes, thus removing the need for land. 

The NGO’s design also integrates a bicycle and pedestrian lane into its plans. 

“Rota reiterates that cycling infrastructure is to be as safe, convenient and direct as possible, and what has been designed by Infrastructure Malta falls short of reaching these required attributes,” it concluded. 

Infrastructure Malta reaction                                                  

Reacting to the statement, Infrastructure Malta said the NGO is repeating “baseless” allegations. 

The road’s agency said that at no point did it consider widening the bypass to six lanes. 

“The agency notes that in its statement, Rota acknowledges the need for improved walking and cycling infrastructure along this bypass, which is one of two objectives of the proposed safety upgrade,” it said. 

IM also called out the diagram presented by Rota, who claimed that it is possible to fit four vehicles and a 4.5 metre segregated path in the existing footprint. 

“This proposal would entail the shifting of the existing central strip and the uprooting of its trees,” it said. 

The roads agency also said that the 3.25 metre lane width quoted in Rota’s diagram is incorrect as it omits an additional space of up to 0.5 metre on each side of the two carriageways, which is required in such road design between the lane edge line and the kerb

IM called out organisations’ and individuals’ claims that the upgrading of the bypass will require 22,500 square metres of land, stating it will only take up 5,657. 

“Infrastructure Malta reiterates that this is the safest, and most sustainable proposal for the introduction of new facilities for pedestrians and cyclists along this road. It will now be up to the authorities to determine whether or not to approve the construction of this new cycling and walking infrastructure,” the statement read.