Plans sent by the Transport Authority to MaltaToday show that cars and buses driving from Saint Julian’s to Gzira will have to round the entire Tigne/Qui Si Sana peninsula to reach the Strand, because Bisazza Street will become completely traffic-free.

The project will also change the physical features of the Sliema Strand, which will now consist of a dual carriage way and three large roundabouts; one near Manwel Dimech Street, one near Tower Road (near St Anne’s Square) and one opposite the Fortina Hotel.

The present garden in the middle of the Strand will be removed, but for the first time pedestrians will be able to walk and shop through a traffic free Bisazza Street.

The ADT claims that the project will improve traffic circulation and road safety and “would make Tigne’ more pedestrian friendly.”

According to the ADT spokesperson, the project will encourage the use of public transport and enhance the shopping and business environment.

It is also set to improve parking facilities for local residents through the introduction of a Residential Parking zone.

But Labour Councillor Martin Debono claims that the new plans will result in the “dehumanisation” of the Strand.

 “The proposed design is a design for vehicles and not human beings. It will ruin the character of the Strand so that MIDI and the other new projects will flourish in Tigne’.”

Contacted by MaltaToday Sliema mayor Marina Arrigo told MaltaToday that she will only pronounce herself after the matter is discussed in the council.

“My opinion will reflect after it will be discussed in a council meeting. A personal concern at the moment is the reduction of parking spaces,” Arrigo told MaltaToday.

Loss of parking is one of the major headaches for shopowners in Sliema’s commercial core.

“This is just a shameful tactic planned to divert shoppers from the existing town centres to the new projects in Tigne’,” claims Debono.

Debono claims that the commercial sector in the Sliema core will be badly affected by the new plans due to a reduction of parking spaces, which he claims will be reduced by half.

But the ADT has yet to determine the number of parking spaces.

“The ADT still has to redefine certain parking layout issues along the Sliema Ferry area in a bid to increase the number of parking spaces,” the ADT spokesperson told MaltaToday.

Back in February 2006 Transport Minister Jesmond Mugliett announced that a Lm 1 million land reclamation project to create more parking spaces in the Strand. The announcement was made during a meeting with angry shop owners like Grace Borg, who protested against the loss in parking space.

It is not clear from the plans whether land will be reclaimed to accommodate parking spaces opposite the Nazzarenu Church. The ADT did not reply to MaltaToday’s question on this issue.

The only public consultation on this issue took place in February 2006 on the eve of the local council election.

A spokesperson for the ADT told MaltaToday that the authority had recieved a number of recommendations both from key stakeholders and from members of the public during this consultation.  

The ADT claims that it has now accepted the council’s recommendation to fully pedestrianise Bisazza Street.

While previous plans allowed buses to pass from Bisazza street, in the latest plans the Bisazza street is fully pedestrianised.

“The new plans also provide a continuous dual carriageway along the Sliema Strand with clear segregation of parking and a more even distribution of traffic passing through the Peninsula through creation of a gyratory system utilizing Tower Road and Qui-si-Sana Road,” the ADT spokesperson told MaltaToday.

The project will be phased over a number of years in order to minimise disruption to traffic in the area.  

The first stage of the project will envisage the opening of the tunnel and temporary road layout along the Sliema Strand. This phase will also include the completion of the Qui-si-Sana Road.

The ADT claims that “Environment Impact Studies”, carried out for the pipeline projects Fort Cambridge Development, Town Square, MIDI and Qui-si-Sana Car Park, show that traffic flows during the morning peak for the year 2010 are estimated to be 1,100 passenger car units northbound and 1,400 southbound.

But no EIAs were ever conducted for Fort Cambridge and the Qui-Si-Sana car park. In fact, this is a major bone of contention between Qui-Si-Sana residents and the government.

Only MIDI did a full EIA in the late 1990s and this is considered as being outdated. Another EIS is being conducted for Town Square.

Martin Debono expressed his concern that Fort Cambridge and Town Square will result in an increase in the traffic far greater than that envisaged by the ADT.

“The 341 new apartments in Fort Cambridge and 240 other apartments in Town Square and the envisaged commercial development and offices will increase traffic by far more than 110 private cars.”