In the coming days the Ministry for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects, through Transport Malta, will issue a call for tenders for the widening and betterment of the Marsa-Ħamrun Bypass near the Santa Venera tunnels, in order to aid the difficulties posed by traffic in these areas.

At the same time, resurfacing works on roads which needed immediate attention in diverse localities across the country are ongoing.

While preparing for next year’s launch of the agency which will be responsible for the improvement and continuous maintenance of roads in Malta and Gozo, the Government is also ensuring that a number of projects which can start dealing with the challenges our roads currently face is done by the end of this year. In fact, Transport Malta is currently carrying out works in a number of localities across the country.

Under the coordination of Transport Malta architects and officials, Birkirkara Road in Ħ’Attard, near San Anton Palace, and Santa Katerina Road in the same locality, are being improved. Similar works will begin in parts of E. Mizzi Road and Imsida Road in Gżira, parts of Sejba Road in Imqabba, and parts of Independence Avenue in Mosta this month.

Resurfacing work on Għexierem Road and Wesgħa tal-Mużew in front of the Roman Villa in Rabat started a few weeks ago and is expected to conclude shortly. Transport Malta is currently rebuilding from scratch parts of Namura Road in Baħrija. A call for tenders for contractors has been issued towards rebuilding from scratch Bormla Road, better known as Ċawsli Road, in Żabbar. Work on this road is expected to begin shortly.

In the coming weeks, another call for tenders will be issued towards widening parts of the Marsa-Ħamrun Bypass, a project with an investment of around €5 million, with the aim of improving the flow of traffic in the area. Similar projects aimed at improving accessibility to main roads will be announced in the coming months.

 

Works towards improving access for vehicles in the area of Mosta Road in Lija have reached their final stages. In this case, the existent road is being widened with the use of new lanes in order to minimise congestion. This work will reduce time lost in traffic for drivers, as well as improving accessibility and reducing air pollution for Lija and Iklin residents in the area.

A similar project is being carried out in Gudja, in order to add new lanes around the roundabout which takes drivers to the airport, to Gudja Bypass and the Kirkop tunnel. This work will aid residents of Gudja, Għaxaq, Kirkop, Imqabba, Qrendi, Safi, and Żurrieq, amongst others, to depart from and come back to their homes on a daily basis. This connection is also crucial when going to the Malta International Airport.

Works are also ongoing in Mġarr near the schools located in the Żebbiegħ area. Improvement works on the connection between Marsa Road and Ingiered Road, in the area of the Marsa Race Course and St Vincent de Paule Residence have begun with the intention of improving safety and reducing the risk of accidents.

Commenting on these developments, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects Ian Borg explained that Transport Malta is seeing to finishing the majority of these works before the start of the new scholastic year when the number of drivers on the road starts increasing again. “We are insisting on not wasting any time where improvements can be made immediately. I have asked Transport Malta to make sure that works which can be done this summer, start as soon as possible. We have also insisted on giving full attention to minimising the impact on road works on residents, drivers and other persons who use or live in the vicinity of these roads. I thank Transport Malta officials and its contractors for doing their utmost so that every project is concluded in the shortest time possible”.

“We are not only working on road improvements. We understand that the difficulties we face on our roads do not only require infrastructural projects. We acknowledge that traffic is an inconvenience for thousands of persons every day, and we also realise that it creates huge environmental challenges. We are working on initiatives towards cleaner and more efficient transport systems for our country. We are therefore considering how we can incentivise more people to use cleaner modes of transport, such as the extension of the grant scheme on the purchase of electric vehicles, which happened a few days ago”.

“This is work that needs to be continuous, and we need to stay committed to it so that the public can finally benefit from an improved quality of life”, concluded Minister Ian Borg.