Opposition MP lashes out at Mizzi over San Gwann traffic diversions

Opposition MP Marthese Portelli lashed out at the government for the traffic diversion that was implemented in San Gwann last weekend, urging transport minister Joe Mizzi to consult residents and get back to the drawing board.

Through the diversion, traffic that used to pass through the roundabout at Vjal ir-Rihan is now being diverted around the block, onto Triq Salvu Busuttil and Triq Caruana Dingli. The changes were introduced to prepare San Gwann for the traffic influx that it is set to receive upon the closure of the Kappara junction.

However, Portelli warned during a parliamentary debate on the financial estimates of the environment authority that the diversion has resulted in “chaos” and standstill traffic and is of great inconvenience to residents and businesses.

“I wish that Joe Mizzi had accompanied me on my house visits so that he could have hear the complaints of residents with his own ears,” the shadow transport minister said. “A woman told me that it takes her half an hour to leave San Gwann when it used to take her seven minutes. Elderly people find it difficult to walk down to church thanks to all the traffic, and people have difficulties parking in their garages because their streets have suddenly become traffic-congested”.

She said that the government failed to consult residents, only organizing a couple of “fake” consultation sessions, during which the minutes weren’t even jotted down.

“Residents and businesses are in a horrendous situation, and I urge Mizzi to listen to them and go back to the drawing board to find a better solution.”