City Gate to come down on 2 May

Transport Malta has notified the public of the imminent demolition of Pope Pius V road, which runs over City Gate, which will be demolished on 2 May.

The road is used by approximately 600 cars during peak hours of entry to Valletta between 8:15am and 9:15am.

Vehicular traffic is to be rerouted as from the 1 May. The main entrance to Valletta is now to be rerouted to St Paul's street, for vehicles commuting to Vjal Glormu Cassar; and St Mark's street to commute through Great Siege (ring) road.

To compliment access points, additional traffic measures are being implemented. Traffic flow along Archbishop's street is being changed, with access permitted from Merchants' street. Triq il-Lanca becomes one-way in the direction of Victoria Gate, and access to Jews' Sally port from lower Old Bakery Street will still be permitted. New exit points are being created through Mattia Preti square.

For City Gate and Hastings residents, additional traffic management arrangements are being introduced through St Mark's, Old Bakery, St John's, Melita, Strait, St Biagio and South streets.

David Sutton, Chief Officer of Integrated Transport Strategy Directorate at Transport Malta said that traffic management in Valletta is difficult for a number of reasons, namely that a city of 0.7km is the final destination of 3,500 people every day according to the Household Travel Survey. He said 21 different scenarios were tested before a final strategy was selected. 

Pedestrians will be redirected away from City Gate, with access between the 2-16 May only permitted through Vjal Nelson and St James' ditch, a walk which will take approximately 5 minutes.

Appropriate signage and Transport Malta officials will guide pedestrians accordingly. A shuttle service will be provided from the bus terminus to Castille place for persons with mobility issues including people in wheelchairs, people with pushchairs and young children and pregnant women. .