Traffic signs vandalised in Swieqi

A number of traffic signs erected in Swieqi by Transport Malta have been vandalised over the weekend.

Last week, residents had put up unauthorised signs in Triq l-Ibragg and Triq Madliena in Swieqi which warned motorists not to honk their horns and on Friday Transport Malta put up new no entry and one way street signs. 

But MaltaToday has learnt that over the weekend some of these signs were vandalised during the night. In April this newspaper had published a report on the traffic signs in the same area which Transport Malta confirmed being illegal.

On Friday a no entry sign was put up at the intersection of Triq il-Balal and Triq l-Ibragg, two more no entry signs at the corner of Triq Il-Madliena and Triq l-Ibragg and a number of one way signs were also put up along these streets.

But most of these signs have been vandalized only a few hours after they were put up.

Swieqi mayor Noel Muscat told MaltaToday that three local councils, Swieqi, San Gwann and Gharghur, agreed to make Triq l-Ibragg one way as an experiment to see which would be the best way to enter and exit.

Currently, Madliena can be reached from three different points and Muscat explained that these new entry points, namely Triq is-Sebh limits of Madiliena, part of Triq Madliena and Triq Santa Katerina and the exits from Triq l-Ibragg to Triq il-Balal would create a ring road allowing traffic to flow much easier.

Muscat said that the council is willing to inverse the route, but somebody did not agree with the new traffic route and during the night between Friday and Saturday the signs were vandalised which resulted in motorists breaking the law unknowingly.

In comments to MaltaToday, a resident said that the after the new signs were put up on Friday residents enjoyed a few hours of peace with less traffic congestions and noise especially when heavy vehicles crossed each other's paths.

While talking to the resident over the phone, the man could be heard advising motorists that they entered Triq il-Madliena illegally because just a few meters away there are two big no entry signs at the beginning of the street.

“We would appreciate the presence of a the police or Local Wardens, not to give out tickets but at least to educate drivers that they are breaking the law since this is a one way street," the resident said.