Asphalting of Qawra Buġibba Junction

File Photo – Photo by David Camilleri

Asphalting Works at Qawra/ Bugibba/ St. Paul’s Bay Junction

 

Works at the Bugibba / Qawra side of the Coast Road are also reaching their final phases and extensive asphalting works in the Qawra/ Bugibba/ St. Paul’s Bay junction are being planned for the coming Wednesday and Thursday nights as well as all day Saturday as follows: 

 

Wednesday Night – From 7pm till the following morning 6am

The junction will be closed to all traffic during the night between Wednesday 30^th September 2015 at 7pm and Thursday 1^st October 2015 at 6am.

Drivers are urged to use alternative routes and avoid the area completely.

Those drivers that need to access the area around this junction are kindly asked to follow the directions that they will be given around the works. 

 

Thursday Night – From 7pm till the following morning 6am

The junction will be closed to all traffic during the night between Thursday 1^st October 2015 at 7pm and Friday 2^nd October 2015 at 6am.

Drivers are urged to use alternative routes and avoid the area completely.

Those drivers that need to access the area around this junction are kindly asked to follow the directions that they will be given around the works.

 

Saturday – During the day from 5am till 1pm (northbound) and 8pm (southbound)

This will be the final phase of the asphalting works in the junction. It is deemed to be the most critical phase of the asphalting works and will be done during the day to ensure the best possible result due to the high visual inspection element of these works.

The timing of the works is also meant to be in sync with the ongoing weekend activities in the area which require north bound access in the early evening and full access later on.

The junction will be closed to all traffic on Saturday 3^rd October 2015 at 5am.  

The northbound traffic will then be able to drive across this junction from 1pm onwards. 

Southbound traffic will in turn be granted access from 8pm onwards.

Drivers are urged to use alternative routes and avoid the area completely.

Those drivers that need to access the area around this junction are kindly asked to follow the directions that they will be given around the works.

These works are approved by the Traffic Management Committee as best possible alternative after discussing different alternatives.

 Transport Malta reminds all drivers that the speed limit on this road and adjacent to all road works varies between 30 and 40km/h and that all motorists are obliged to follow signage and directions from the duty officers.

First Variable Message Signs in Malta

Variable Message Signs

Transport Malta has installed a number of Variable Message Signs.  The signs are part of the Intelligent Traffic Management Systems project.  Malta will have a network of Variable Message Signs and Lane Changing Signs supported by a network of Closed Circuit Cameras.  All signs will be controlled through a Traffic Control Centre.  Traffic will be monitored in real time enabling us to relay real-time traffic information to drivers and help them manage journey planning.  

The project will help manage traffic and improve road safety through improved incident, flood, road works and road closure management.  The technology will revolutionise traffic management and control as we know it today.  It will bring Malta in line with technological applications in the field of land traffic management and transport.  

These Variable Message Signs are being located in strategic locations on the road network to allow the driver to pick alternative routes.  34 Variable Message Signs will be implemented.  A number of foundations and poles for the Variable Message Signs have already been implemented and the first such sign has been setup in Mdina Road Żebbug.  It has been operated on a trial run. 48 Lane Changing Signs will also be implemented on tunnels and bridges to inform drivers of any lane closures on the approaches.  This project is co-financed by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund.

Most of Coast Road open for vehicles

Most of the Coast Road is open for vehicles

Transport Malta has opened the remaining stretches of carriageway at the Pembroke end of the Coast Road. The Coast Road from Pembroke up to the Salini area is fully asphalted.

 This remains a construction site with various ongoing finishing works. The prescribed speed limit remains 40km/hr and overtaking is prohibited.

Works to improve traffic flow in Sir Paul Boffa Avenue in Paola

Works in Sir Paul Boffa Avenue, Paola

Transport Malta is carrying out works in Vjal Sir Paul Boffa in Paola.  The works are aimed to increase the capacity of the road towards Valletta and to better meet the demand of the morning peak hour traffic.

One lane from the roundabout at Valletta Road corner with Vjal Sir Paul Boffa towards the Addolorata Traffic Lights will be closed tomorrow from 07:00hrs to 16:00hrs.  Hence Vjal Sir Paul Boffa will be operating with one lane towards Valletta Road Paola and two lanes towards Marsa.

Drivers are encouraged to use Dock 7 Road which will be open between 06:00hrs to 18:00hrs.

Volkswagen case in Malta

Following the Volkswagen case that has surfaced recently, Transport Malta has immediately communicated with local importers of VW cars and has requested official information about vehicles that were affected to analyse the situation.  

 

Transport Malta is being regularly updated on the developments and is communicating with other European Regulators on how the situation will be tackled.

World Maritime Day

Malta commemorates World Maritime Day 2015

During this week, Malta is joining the international maritime community to celebrate the World Maritime Day. Malta commemorates this occasion on the same day as IMO (International Maritime Organisation), on Thursday 24^th September 2015.

The theme for World Maritime Day in 2015 as approved by the Council of the Organisation is Maritime Education and Training.

This year’s theme was chosen in order to focus on maritime education and training, two areas that are essential for the long-term sustainability of the sector, both at sea and on-shore.

Minister Joe Mizzi remarked that Malta acknowledges the important role IMO has in ensuring that effective standards of training remain the bedrock of a safe and secure shipping industry, which needs to preserve the quality, practical skills and competence of qualified human resources. Maritime Malta pays tribute to IMO for its success in building maritime partnerships that are the basis of ensuring globally applicable standards essential for serving on boat ships, skills and competence of seafarers, and indeed, the human element ashore maintained through effective maritime education and training.

Malta has been a member of the IMO since 1966 having acceded in June of that year to the UN convention establishing this organisation. As an international maritime centre and in particular as one of the largest shipping registers in the world, Malta is an active participant at IMO. Malta is also proud of its direct association with two very important international centres run by IMO and located in Malta, namely the Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC) and the IMO International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI). Both institutions have a distinct objective to ensure that maritime administrators have a well developed and suitably trained human resource.

The Minister for Transport and Infrastructure reiterated Malta’s uninterrupted support for the work of IMO and the importance Government continues to attach to the further development and upgrading of the marine sector in a sustainable manner that would really meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Resurfacing in Msida

Resurfacing works at MA Vassalli L-Imsida

Transport Malta will be resurfacing Triq M.A. Vassalli L-Imsida.  The road is the one from Msida Local Council to the Skate Park. The road will be closed tonight between 20:00hrs  and 05:00hrs.  The road will be closed again during the same times tomorrow.

Traffic will be diverted through Rue d’Argens onto Triq tas-Sliema (Kappara roundabout) and onto Triq M.A Vassalli. Vehicles coming from the direction of Valletta can use Triq il-Wied in Birkirkara.

Any inconvienience is regretted.

Maintenance of Xemxija Hill St. Paul’s Bay

Road Maintenance in Triq Telgħet ix-Xemxija

Transport Malta will be maintaining parts of Telghet ix-Xemxija, San Pawl il-Baħar, tonight and tomorrow. The works will be carried out between 19:30hrs and 06:00 on both days.

Parking will not be permitted along the stretch of road where road works will be carried out.  The road will not be closed and traffic can proceed through in both directions.

Transport Malta however encourages drivers to use alternative routes to avoid unnecessary delays.

Extended Scrappage Scheme another success

More than 1,000 vehicles scrapped through second extension of ‘scrappage’ scheme.

The scrappage scheme, originally announced in the 2014 budget and then extended for a second time on the 12th August 2015, has been taken up completely. A total of 1,146 vehicles benefitted from the €900,000 grant allocated by the Government for this scheme. The successful initiative was planned to encourage people to dispose of their old vehicles and to invest in new cars with lower emissions.

Vehicle owners who applied for the scheme were entitled to a grant of between €700 and €900 upon the purchase of a new M1 motor vehicle (used for the carriage of persons and which may carry no more than eight passengers in addition to the driver, the CO2 emissions of which do not exceed 130g/km and its length does not exceed 4460mm, and is licensed for private use only) that qualifies for the grant scheme whilst at the same time de-registering a vehicle in the same category.

The scheme in the form of a grant to incentivise the purchase of Battery Electric Vehicles and Battery Electric Quadricycles is still applicable. 

New Milestone for Maltese Aircraft Register

Maltese Aircraft Register reaches the 200 aircraft milestone

 The Government’s policy to promote Malta as a leading jurisdiction for Aircraft registration and as an attractive location to base air operating companies continues to register further success.  In fact, the number of aircraft on the Maltese aviation register has now reached a record number of 201. Since January, the Authority has registered 49 aircraft which compares very well with the 43 aircraft registered over the whole of 2014.

 

The last year has seen various initiatives aimed at restructuring the Civil Aviation Directorate.  These included extensive training to key personnel and an aggressive recruitment drive that resulted in doubling specialised inspecting personnel at the Authority. Today, the Civil Aviation Directorate has the necessary expertise to ensure the highest level of safety standards and service required by the industry. More investment in personnel is expected to be made next year to further strengthen other areas of the Directorate. These efforts have been recognised by leading international operators who are increasingly considering Malta as their place for business.

 

Commenting on these positive results, James Piscopo, Chairman & CEO of Transport Malta said “we are determined to ensure that Malta becomes a significant player in the aviation industry. The investment in specialised personnel is providing the required impetus to secure more business from a sector that gives our country prestige, direct foreign revenue, employment and added value.”