The Foundation warns of damage to the train pier in Attard
The Malta Railway Foundation has raised the alarm about damage to the remains of a train pier in Attard due to work on the Central Link project, but the road agency insists that the structure was not built. damage.
The foundations of the former San Salvatore train station, not far from Mount Carmel Hospital, were unveiled last year. The Malta railway lasted between 1883 and 1931 but the service was discontinued because it could not compete with the buses.
Paul Galea, from the foundation, said Times of Malta Cycling was built and a footbridge parallel to an existing bridge connecting Triq il-Linja with Triq l-Imdina was built quite close to the recently discovered pier.
In March, the foundation expressed concern about the “irreparable damage” the works could cause but was reassured that the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage would be overseeing the works.
However, when Galea visited the site again this week, he realized that the original slabs had been removed to make way for the sewer pipes, while parts of the pier have now become inaccessible and therefore cannot be removed by debris accumulating in the sewer. area, leaving the area as a “landfill”.
“What is monitoring the superintendence? The current state of the pier is not acceptable. What is the use of being an officially registered NGO and a registered voluntary organization? Our voices and demands are not being taken into account, “he said.
Our voices and demands are not being taken into account
Bridge closed Monday
The foundation’s concerns were raised when the Attard and Infrastructure Malta local council announced that the bridge connecting Triq il-Linja with Triq l-Imdina, which used to connect with San Salvatore station, would be closed to traffic from Monday.
Infrastructure Malta has warned drivers that the agency will be launching a project to “improve” the bridge.
When contacted, an IM spokesperson said that the construction of the new cycle path and the following works to improve the accessibility of the Triq il-Linja bridge are being carried out in consultation with the Authority. -Planning and Supervision of Cultural Heritage.
The works are being monitored by archaeologists approved by the superintendence, he confirmed.
“The wreckage of the railway pier, which was buried in the past during road works decades ago, has been exposed and cleaned up during recent works. These remains were not damaged or dismantled during these ongoing works. They will now remain exposed next to the bike lane and the new walkway, as requested by SCH, so that they can be restored. “
Freelance journalism costs money. Times of Malta Support for price of coffee.
Support us