Trees gone, farmland taken as Tal-Balal gets widened

A number of trees have been uprooted, others transplanted, and an undisclosed area of agricultural land is being sacrificed in Tal-Balal for a new traffic lane to alleviate congestion.
The project, which is spearheaded by Infrastructure Malta, will improve the traffic flow between Naxxar, Għarghur, Iklin and San Ġwann. It will see new lanes, pavements and cycling-friendly infrastructure, and will improve the efficiency and safety of the roundabouts along the way.
According to a spokesman for Infrastructure Malta, the upgrade will see users travelling along Triq tal-Balal reduce their travel time by 30 to 40 per cent. This improvement will also lead to a decrease in the vehicle emissions caused by long queuing times.
The project extends from the roundabout at the northern end of the road linking Triq tal-Balal with Naxxar, Iklin and Triq Margaret Murray to and from Għarghur and all the way to San Ġwann. The road’s existing street lighting and vehicle restraint systems will also be upgraded.


The spokesman said the project also included rebuilding Triq tal-Balal’s four roundabouts, new bypass lanes and improved junction designs.
The road upgrade will use the existing footprint by...