Transport Ministry announces changes to Mellieha road closure and passage

Transport Minister Austin Gatt said he was not aware that only Mellieha residents could go up Marfa Street to Mellieha centre, due to roaadworks taking place on the Mellieha bypass.

The minister made it clear that this road to the centre of Mellieha should either be closed to everyone, including residents, or open to all.

Gatt told the Mellieha mayor and Transport Malta that this arrangement, which was reached between the two sides, was unacceptable and should be removed immediately.

 “While I am prepared to make arrangements to reduce the inconvenience in Mellieha as much as possible, I am not prepared to accept a qualification system for residents to pass from a public road,” Gatt said.

An agreement was reached with the local council of Mellieha, together with the GRTU and MHRA, and as from tomorrow several changes will be implemented.

All local wardens will be withdrawn from the roundabout close to the Seabank Hotel. While large vehicles will still only be permitted to use the detour by Popeye Village, vehicles carrying seven passengers or less will be able to use Triq il-Marfa to pass through Mellieha centre.

Gorg Borg Olivier Street will be opened to traffic going in both directions although the lane heading to Valletta will be limited to commercial cars and route buses only. Enforcement officers will be available to help the public to better manage traffic.

The time-restricted parking zones will permit parking for 45 minutes instead of 60 minutes to improve circulation.

Finally, parking will be permitted in restricted zones with permission clearly indicated on location.

An evaluation of the impact of parking on circulation will be conducted and should parking spots be found to repeatedly cause circulation problems, they will be removed.

The Ministry for Infrastructure, Transport and Communication said that these are temporary measures to be implemented until work is completed in Ta’ Pennellu. Once completed, all traffic arrangements implemented will revert back to how it was before works commenced.