Also, in connection with the structural tests, the Malta Transport Authority has imposed a 45-kilometre-per-hour speed limit, which was increased from 30kph the previous week.

Last week, The Malta Independent carried a story that the cameras on the Regional Road were not speed cameras as was being claimed but surveillance cameras which were not able to determine the speed of a car. This was confirmed by the president of the Local Councils’ Association, which provided the cameras.

Meanwhile, Labour Party spokesman for roads, Charles Buhagiar, said the state of the regional Road bridges was the direct result of lack of maintenance over the years.

In a statement, Mr Buhagiar said this was not the only bridge which lacked maintenance. Those in Mistra and Qormi, and the St Paul’s Bay bypass, also needed maintenance. He added that the government has to use the Italian protocol funds by 2005, and has not even started yet.