Marsascala’s new €50k bollards bite the dust

The Marsascala local council has removed new traffic bollards in Triq il-Qaliet just a few weeks after they were installed by Transport Malta at a cost of about €50,000.
The flexible plastic bollards were placed at frequent intervals along the road some six weeks ago, following regular complaints by residents and the local council about persistent speeding.
The council, however, decided to scrap them, citing an “extreme negative reaction from the public”.
Local councillor John Camilleri told the Times of Malta the council had twice requested, unsuccessfully, that Transport Malta install a speed camera in that road following several accidents there in the last year.
Mr Camilleri said Transport Malta instead returned with the proposal to use plastic bollards to guide traffic, but the council was not informed of the amount or positioning of the bollards beforehand.

The bollards immediately proved unpopular with residents, blocking some garages and causing problems for buses attempting to turn in the road. Several times, buses were also reported to be switching lanes so as not to get stuck behind other buses at bus stops, only to be caught on the wrong side of the road due to the...