The Marsa-Qormi footbridge was inaugurated, 17 months after it was put in place
On Friday, a €3.5 million pedestrian walkway was officially inaugurated at the top of Triq It-Tijrija in Marsa, much more than a year after it was put in place for the first time.
The footbridge, located on the busy Marsa-Hamrun bypass, connects the residential area of Marsa with the center of Qormi via Sqaq il-Jerejja.
Infrastructure Malta removed the bridge in place in February 2021 – 17 months ago – and did so without obtaining a valid planning permit, using a legal provision reserved for emergency works.
The bridge, however, remained closed and unavailable for several months after this, Times of Malta he had reported. Pedestrian access was opened some months later, but the footbridge was only officially inaugurated on Friday.
“This project is part of our vision to bring about a change towards multimodal transport, as it will create an important connection for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users,” said Farrugia.
“It was also integral to introduce this bridge for safety reasons, as we have seen a number of incidents and accidents happen at this location over the years.”
“I look forward to seeing this bridge serve the community well and introduce a safe crossing where pedestrians previously faced danger.”
The Marsa-Hamrun crossing is a popular route for pedestrians as it leads from the center of Marsa to key places such as the Marsa Park and Ride bus terminus, said Infrastructure Malta architect Raphael Abdilla, that the pedestrians often sought to reach by crossing five lanes of traffic.
The project includes a main bridge structure featuring a 30-metre, 40-tonne linked-arch steel superstructure supported on two abutment towers.
The three towers that support the bridge include stairs and elevators as well as light and surveillance cameras.
A section of the ground has also been landscaped to include trees, shrubs and other plants as well as a new irrigation system.
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