Heavy Vehicles Rattle Xewkija’s Park-and-Ride: ‘Temporary’, Ministry Says

It’s 7 AM, and the usually peaceful Xewkija is already buzzing. Not with the hum of early morning chatter, but with the rumble of heavy vehicles. The park-and-ride facility, meant to ease traffic into Victoria, has become an unlikely truck stop. And the ministry says it’s only temporary.

Xewkija’s park-and-ride was launched with much fanfare. It was meant to be a solution to Victoria’s traffic woes, a place where commuters could park and hop onto a bus. But somewhere along the line, heavy vehicles started using it as a pit stop. Now, locals wake up to the growl of engines and the jolt of heavy vehicles rolling by.

“It’s not what we envisioned,” admits a frustrated Joe Borg, a Xewkija resident who’s been campaigning against the heavy vehicle influx. “We’re supposed to be a quiet village, not a truck stop.”

The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure insists the situation is under control and temporary. “We’re aware of the issue,” says a spokesperson. “It’s a temporary measure due to roadworks on the main route. We’re working on a solution to redirect the heavy vehicles.”

But for residents like Maria Camilleri, who runs a small B&B in Xewkija, the ‘temporary’ situation is taking a toll. “Our guests come for peace and quiet, not to sleep through truck noise,” she says. “I hope the ministry finds a solution soon.”

While some businesses like Maria’s are feeling the pinch, others are seeing an uptick. “We’re doing better business,” admits Peter Portelli, who runs a café near the park-and-ride. “But I feel for the residents. It’s not right, this noise and traffic.”

Xewkija’s council is also feeling the strain. “We’re doing our best to manage the situation,” says Council President Paul Buttigieg. “We’ve increased patrols, but we need the ministry’s help to redirect the traffic.”

The ministry promises a solution soon. “We’re working on redirecting the heavy vehicles,” the spokesperson reassures. “We understand the residents’ concerns and we’re committed to resolving this issue.”

For now, Xewkija waits, hoping for a return to its peaceful ways. As Joe Borg puts it, “We just want our village back.”