The Civil Aviation road is estimated to be ready by the end of August and will be the first road financed by the European Union. Work began on the 600-metre stretch at the end of March. The first carriageway will soon be completed and traffic will be rediverted to its original route. Works on the other carriageway should take less time as no service works needed to be carried out.

Asphalt will be laid next week on a kilometre-stretch of the Hal Far road in front of the Employment and Training Corporation.

Work on the other side of the road will move ahead once the new drainage systems were installed and pavements and kerbs laid.

Work commenced in November 2005 and cover a three kilometres stretch. A tender was awarded to a consortium of Maltese and Italian companies to rebuild the viaducts on Manwel Dimech Bridge.

Last week, a contractor completed works on the bridge in preparation for the changing of the decks and rehabilatation of the supporting pillars.

Both structures will be removed separately and one viaduct will always be used throughout the works.

The Malta Transport Authority is mapping out alternative routes to divert traffic while works are in progress.

Work commenced last month on St Paul’s Bay Bypass and the tender for the Mgarr – Ghajnsielem road was awarded and work is expected to begin at the end of summer.