The tenders awarded cover road works in two major industrial zones, Mosta and Mriehel, and the final phase of works on an arterial road in Mtarfa, a Department of Information statement said yesterday.

Work is set to start shortly and will run concurrently with works funded under the fifth Italo-Maltese protocol on a number of arterial and distributor roads from Targa Gap to Luqa.

The works to be carried out in the industrial zones of Mosta and Mriehel include the construction of footpaths, road foundation and surfacing. Once completed, these works will facilitate the movement of commercial vehicles within and out of these zones and improve the working conditions of people employed with the factories and businesses operating from those areas.

The Roads Directorate had already coordinated with the service utilities to shift any underground services to the roadside or pavement. To this end, a number of services culverts will be constructed so maintenance works by service utilities can be carried out without causing any damage to the new surface.

Similar projects have been executed in the past in the upper Mriehel, Tal-Handaq and Zebbug industrial estates, the DOI said.

One of the major issues taken into consideration during the design of these roads was the implementation of an adequate storm water system to collect rainwater from the road surface, which would otherwise cause severe damage to the road structure.

To this end, a pipe network made up of suitable diameters that can take the intensities of water generated from the catchment areas in question is being laid. This is expected to eliminate flooding downstream.

The roads that will be reconstructed in the Mosta Industrial Estate area include Ballut, Znuber, Kappar, Gharghar, Parsott, Fortizza, Nikol Muscat, Filippu Apap Bologna and Sriedaq streets.

Roads to be reconstructed in Mriehel include Industrija, Kummerc, Haddieda, Snajja, Bankiera, Salib and Ghajn streets.

The total area to be asphalted in both these projects is 35,000 square metres.

A separate tender has been awarded for the last phase in the reconstruction of the Mtarfa bypass. Works commissioned on this road include the laying of tarmac on the carriageway leading towards Rabat.