Infrastructure Malta is widening a short stretch of Burmarrad Road and replacing new barriers with bollards after a road safety test showed that a fire truck could not overtake another heavy vehicle.
It is understood concern was recently raised about crash barriers that Infrastructure Malta installed as part of a €3.5 million “safety upgrade” of the 2.5-kilometre road and its junctions.
The roads agency insists that the precast concrete barriers reduce injuries and accidents and that their installation does not hinder first aid responders from overtaking other vehicles along most of the road.
A test, carried out in conjunction with the Civil Protection Department and the Emergency Department of Mater Dei Hospital, found that the existing carriageways are wide enough to accommodate two fire trucks next to each other, except for a “short stretch” of the northbound carriageway where a footpath that existed before the safety upgrade juts out onto the cycle lane.