Concern on widening of Qalet Marku junction

The Environment Protection Directorate has given its blessing to the project to upgrade the coast road into a four-lane carriage way but has expressed strong reservations on the proposed widening of the Qalet Marku junction.

The proposal as originally submitted encroached directly onto the scheduled wetland at the mouth of Il-Wied Ta' Kieli, in a way that a large portion of the already small wetland would have been obliterated.

Following objections by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, Transport Malta made  two alternative proposals but these are still deemed unacceptable by the EPD.

The first alternative proposal made in April 2012 envisaged the relocation northwards of the proposed roundabout.

According to the EPD, although this proposal would avoid harming the wetland, this would also result in a prominent scar in the landscape as a result of tearing down of the rock face in what is described landmark site.

The second alternative proposal submitted in July 2012 involves the elimination of the roundabout as had been proposed by the EPD but also includes a significant diversion of the road carriageway onto the foreshore, which "would constitute an even greater environmental impact".

In a report issued this week, the EPD expressed reservations vis-à-vis the acceptability of the proposals for this component of the project, "particularly when considering the sensitivity of the site affected by this proposed junction".

The Directorate is insisting that the minimisation of land uptake should be a priority in the design of this junction and is proposing the downscaling of the junction, also noting its relative proximity to two other nearby roundabouts forming part of the project.

But despite its reservations, the EPD recognised that the upgrading of this stretch of road is required to cater for the increase in traffic, particularly on account of increasing movements between Malta and Gozo also noting that the proposal also aims to reduce accident potental at junctions and bends, as well as significant delays.