The rebuilding of the Salini Coast Road, to be completed by May 2015, is expected to cost some €53 million, Transport Minister Joe Mizzi said this morning.

In a reply to a parliamentary question submitted by Nationalist MP Toni Bezzina in February, the minister had said the project would have cost €49 million.

In the meantime, residents of Bahar ic-Caghaq have complained that the barriers put up because of the construction work are unsafe and inconvenient. Residents have to walk on the road, with cars passing by within inches. Most of them are unable to jump over the barriers and this means that access to the pelican lights is also blocked.

Addressing a press conference in Bahar ic-Caghaq, Minister Mizzi said that the new administration was trying to instil a new culture in road building.

The previous government, he said, left a complete chaos in Transport Malta when it came to major infrastructural projects with lack of planning and high budget overruns in the finishing of projects and costs.

Mr Mizzi said that he was pressing contractors to finish projects on time and in line with the approved budget.

PN Reacts

Speaking to The Malta Independent, Nationalist MP Tony Bezzina said that the transport minister has failed to mention that all the studies and application to MEPA were done under Nationalist administration. He questioned the fact that during a parliamentary question, Mr.Mizzi had said that rebuilding of Salini Coastroad had cost € 49 million, however now, the published figure is €53 million.