This marks the beginning of the reconstruction work of the second and third Lots of arterial and distributor roads funded under the fifth Italo-Maltese financial protocol. The work forms part of a Lm12.5 million project, due to be completed by November 2005.

Italian contractor F.lli Basilotta Srl has been entrusted with the reconstruction of the section of the road from the junction near Mtarfa cemetery down to the Siggiewi junction in Zebbug.

The first phase of Lot 2 involves the reconstruction of both carriageways of Zebbug Road from the Saqqajja roundabout to the Zebbug Road junction. The stretch of road is 2.2 kilometres long and southbound traffic from Rabat to Zebbug is being diverted through Mdina Road and Zebbug Road. Work on the other carriageway is expected to start next week.

The work being done involves the complete reconstruction of the road surface, kerbs and the construction of a service duct. Work on this stretch of road is expected to be completed by September.

Work on an 800-metre stretch of Zebbug Road is also proceeding at a steady pace. The stretch is between the Siggiewi Road junction and Angelo Borg Road in Qormi, which forms part of the third Lot of roads. In this area, all utilities including electricity, water, telephone and cable television are being moved.

This phase of the project has been entrusted to F.lli Anastasi Snc and Maltese subcontractors Asfaltar Co. Ltd.

The work to be done on the remaining part of Lot three, that is Qormi Road in Qormi to the junction near the Malta International Airport’s cargo terminal, is expected to start before the end of summer.