The minister was visiting the work in progress, together with Transport Authority (ADT) chairman Mario Falzon and a representative from Bonnici Brothers Ltd, the contractors carrying out the work on the bypass.

The work had taken around two years to complete. However, the road had had to be reconstructed as it had collapsed in a number of places because it was laid on clay foundations. In addition, a rubble wall had been built along its side together with underground facilities for services.

Work had also been halted for some months as the ministry was negotiating a set price for roadworks with private contractors, the outcome of which had affected the cost of the work at Mtarfa, along with other roads.

Work on the second phase of the road is scheduled to start in a couple of weeks. This involves the reconstruction of the outer lane, as work on the inner lane has been done in tandem with the construction of the roadside rubble walls. ADT experts are trying to design a cheaper way to build these walls, as the ones built during the first phase were quite costly, Mr Mugliett explained.

Both the minister and Mr Falzon insisted that, in order to be implemented, a new technique would have to produce the same type of walls as those built during the first phase, in order to maintain uniformity.

The Mtarfa road is an important stretch for many reasons, said Mr Mugliett. It provides an alternative route to the road through Rabat. Furthermore, it is part of a large countryside area and the work carried out on the road complements the area’s beauty. Finally, the completion of this road means that the rest of the work forming part of the Italian protocol can continue.

Work in the pipeline includes the reconstruction of an arterial road that runs beneath Mdina, he explained. The Mtarfa bypass will be used as an alternative route while this road will be closed off.

The minister said that road development work across the island had picked up a steady pace that is expected to be maintained over the next few years, and added that the government was not only relying on external funding to carry out its plans in this respect but was also using its recurrent budget.