‘Bypass will result in loss of 28,000 square metres of land’

A proposed bypass in Attard will result in the destruction of 28,000 square metres of agricultural land and the loss of 142 parking places according to a group of residents objecting to the development.
Moreover, the proposal would only alleviate traffic flowing along the Rabat road but would lead to a longer detour for vehicles approaching from Żebbuġ and increase emissions, they claimed.
These “grave concerns” were presented in a position paper unveiled during a public meeting on Wednesday by the Attard Residents Environmental Network.  
Read: Residential roads to make way for new Attard bypass
Unveiled last May, the planned bypass is part of a €55 million project stretching from the foot of Saqqajja Hill to Mrieħel.
It is aimed to alleviate the traffic bottleneck at Triq in-Nutar Zarb. The 1.3 kilometre thoroughfare is to be constructed by linking and widening three residential roads – Triq Oliver Agius, Triq Ferdinandu Inglott and Triq Tumas Chetcuti.
Traffic expert Maria Attard, who addressed the meeting, warned that widening roads was not a long term solution but a temporary one as it would encourage more vehicles on the road.
Prof. Attard noted that Malta’s road network…