This week saw the commencement of work on 31 residential roads in Malta as part of the plan for this year, which will be improving 120 roads, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects Ian Borg said today.
Speaking in Triq l-Gharnuq in Fgura, one of the roads part of the plan, Borg proclaimed that this will translate into 25km of residential roads with an investment of €53.5 million around several localities in Malta. The allocation for 2019 being €100 million, meaning that Infrastructure Malta will be issuing a second consecutive call for works.
“This is a Government with a commitment towards high quality infrastructure, as this is an aspect of society which touches people directly on a daily basis, and its quality affects the quality of life of residents. Today one will be able to observe works in several roads around several localities in Malta. We are not only considering the road surface, but we are making sure that works include stronger foundations, more comfortable pavements and improved services beneath the road surface.”
Infrastructure Malta will also be looking at signs and safety systems which will be improved or replaced where necessary, the Minister said, going on to say that the first 31 roads will see the installation of 32 kilometers of new water distribution pipelines, electricity cables and telecommunication ducts.
“We are aiming to see that works can be completed with the least inconvenience possible and with the proper quality, and that is why Infrastructure Malta had issued a single call which held within it 120 roads, with the result that three consortia are working to implement this extensive work.”
These investments, Borg noted, will free the burden Local Council had with their limited budgets.
Parliamentary Secretary for Local Government and Communities Silvio Parnis was also present for the announcement, and he added that Local Councils will have a crucial role in this change because the Local Government is the bridge between the residents and the Central Government and therefore the Local Councils will be an important stakeholder in the consultations with Infrastructure Malta, in order to decide which roads are in dire need of reconstruction.
Parnis concluded by explaining that the allocation given to Local Councils for road maintenance will remain, and that this goes on to show that Infrastructure Malta and Local Councils will be working side by side.