Updated 2.25pm
Infrastructure Malta wants to build a roundabout that threatens arable land and the destruction of a 500-year-old reservoir at Burmarrad so as to benefit a supermarket developer, Moviment Graffitti claimed on Saturday.
Meant to serve as a “traffic-calming measure”, the roundabout will be built on the main road at the crossroads with Triq is-Sardin, next to a proposed Bonnici Brothers supermarket which will be on a site outside the development zone, the lobby group said.
The supermarket s application was submitted in 2018, however it was suspended for two years until the roadworks were announced, the NGO said.
According to Moviment Graffitti, Bonnici Brothers also have other plans for the area, with a planning control application that would allow for several residential blocks if the permit goes through.
Updated 12.50pm, adds PN statement
There is nothing in the Mrieħel flyover project that justifies more destruction of agricultural land in one of the most fertile zones of the country, former Prime Minister Alfred Sant insisted on Tuesday.
In a post on Facebook, the Labour MEP said that after his criticism a month ago, he had taken minister Ian Borg s advice and had a closer look at plans to build a flyover at the Mrieħel bypass. Sant said that after doing so, he stood by his original position.
One month ago, Sant had said Infrastructure Malta had to become far more transparent and accountable for its projects as he expressed sympathy for farmers and residents who were protesting against the Mrieħel plans.
Infrastructure Malta should close a dangerous junction across the Mrieħel bypass and re-route traffic to other roads rather than build a flyover which will take up precious agricultural land, Qormi Local Council insisted on Tuesday.
The plans for the busy road were revealed earlier this month by Moviment Graffitti, which said that the flyover will replace the current pedestrian bridge and take up agricultural land equivalent to the size of three football pitches.
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Infrastructure Malta has defended its plans, arguing that the flyover is needed to remove the danger caused when traffic from the south of Malta crosses the bypass to enter the Tal-Blat area adjoining Mrieħel industrial zone.