From Ms D. Fenech

I thank you for publishing my letter “We do not care!” (TMIS, 29 July).

I am delighted that by the time my letter commenting on the roadworks in Ghar Dalam Road, Birzebbuga was published, this stretch of road was in fact tarmacked on Saturday 28 July, much to the relief of the hundreds of people, who use this main thoroughfare not to mention residents. Yes, the work needed to be carried out. Here I would like to commend the workmen involved. They worked in inhuman conditions. They worked right through the heat wave under a blistering sun. They deserve all praise! It was not the workers, who were the problem but its organisation.

For example:

• Was it wise to start work at this time of year after having such a very dry winter? The timing created hardship for all involved.

• Why wasn’t there more surveillance to ensure that heavy traffic such as huge lorries, very long trailers, and huge trucks loaded with scrap metal not only do not use this road while work was in progress, but worse still have them driving up and down at excessive speed and mounting pavements, or forcing other vehicles to do so. It was not enough to simply put up a sign at Bir-id-Deheb suggesting the alternative Hal- Far route. Unfortunately on this island it is not enough to suggest, one must enforce.

• The sporadic appearances of traffic wardens were very obvious. One could easily have shot a very interesting and, sadly, comical video of the antics that went on as a result of the free for all and might is right attitude. The heat and the dust did not help Maltese tempers. The traffic wardens did their job when they showed up; the problems arose when they were not there.

• The roadworks have not been completed because apparently they will continue till Bir-id- Deheb.

• Can we learn from our mistakes? If they are not mistakes, can somebody justify them?

• One last point. The road has been tarmacked but the broken pavement just before the junction to Qajjenza remains and the danger persists. Who is responsible for fixing it? Can somebody please treat the matter as urgent?

Dorothy Fenech

BIRZEBBUGA