Malta airport expansion needs wider roads

A traffic impact study (TIS) carried out for the extension of commercial facilities at the Malta International Airport says three arms on Qormi Road and Triq Hal Farrug’s roundabout junction will have to be widened to two lanes on each arm.

The new development is being proposed on a rectangular parcel of land forming part of the Malta International Airport complex, which has an area of over 130,000 square metres.

“This would require extensive intervention and expropriation of land,” the impact assessment on the proposed Malta International Airport expansion warns.

Although the expansion project is set to lead to a considerable increase in traffic, the TIS claims that this junction is expected to exceed its capacity in the next decade, irrespective of whether or not the development is made.

The TIS foresees a dramatic increase of traffic on the Luqa arm of Aviation Road from 18,665 cars a day in 2014, to 34,615 in 2029. If the project is not carried out the traffic along this road would increase to an annual average of 21,669.

Traffic along Triq il-Kunsill tal-Ewropa is expected to increase from the current 21,647 to 32,368 in 2029 if the development takes place. If the project does not take place traffic will increase to 25,131.

At Dawret il-Gudja, traffic will increase from 6,806 cars a day to 10,912 in 2029.

The new development will cater for 2,415 parking spaces for visitors, 518 spaces for staff, 328 taxi spaces and 48 coach spaces. The number of car park spaces included in the project is deemed sufficient.

2,300-square metre supermarket

The large existing centrally located car park will be roofed over to accommodate an enormous 2,300 m² supermarket.

A massive seven-storey block set over a 3,200 m² footprint will include commercial and office space at ground level, including double height showrooms.

And a new hotel development will be accommodated at higher floors of another 1,400 m² block.

Another block will consist of a commercial centre with a maximum floor area of 2,500 m² per floor. The complex will incorporate both commercial and office space at ground level, with double height showrooms.

Another two-storey block will include commercial facilities on two levels, each with a floor space of 7,000 m².

The existing fuel service station will be relocated to provide improved access to arterial routes.

Moreover another block will incorporate a recreational zone having a total area of 2,000 m². This will replace the existing staff car park, which will be relocated to a separate area within the site boundary.