Hundreds of thousands of liri are spent to improve the road network in Malta and Gozo by building new connections and upgrading exiting ones. Funds arriving through the fifth protocol with Italy and now also from the European Union will help to make Malta’s roads up to standard.

Road works are not a one-time project. It is an ongoing exercise needed because there is always something to be done. Apart from the central government’s work to upgrade the major arteries falling under its responsibility, local councils too play their part in maintaining or building residential roads.

Road works do not only mean a simple resurfacing. They also include the laying of underground services in such a way as to cause as little disruption as possible when maintenance or repair works need to be carried out once there is a problem later on. This takes a lot of time, both at the planning stage and in the actual carrying out of the work in question.

Another issue is the diversion of traffic through other roads while works are being carried out. One here needs to distinguish between the closure of a minor road, one which is mostly used by residents of the area, and the closure of a major thoroughfare, from where traffic is flowing regularly as it is an important link between one place and another.

It is here that the major problems arise. This is because these major arteries are used by hundreds of drivers on their way to work, parents taking their children to and from school and also by deliverymen and service providers. Changing one’s predetermined and regular route to a particular place causes inconvenience and this is why such diversions should be planned to perfection.

Naturally, it can never be possible for the secondary route to be as flowing as the major thoroughfare. Yet, at the same time, it is possible for such secondary routes to be made better.

First of all, it is often noticed that these secondary routes are in a poor state of upkeep. Very often drivers risk damaging their cars when using them. The fact that they are narrower further slows down the traffic flow. It is believed that these secondary roads which, while the works on the major thoroughfare are being carried out themselves become important arteries, should be prepared well before they are used as a diversion.

Secondly, there are occasions when the closure of a major road puts pressure on other important stretches. It happened, for example, when Rudolphe Street in Sliema was closed for a few weeks recently. This meant that there was extra pressure on Tower Road, both from the Gzira and the St Julian’s side, and the notoriously slow movement of traffic in these stretches became slower.

While this is understandable, at the same time it would do no harm to have wardens or traffic policemen helping the drivers on their way. We have already improved in terms of signs and notices warning oncoming traffic of diversions. Now we need to do that something extra to make it work better.

A third issue – and this is what really irritates drivers – is that when they are compelled to use secondary routes because major stretches are closed, it is often the case that they find them blocked too. This could be a temporary thing – like when bread is being delivered door to door – but it could also be of a permanent nature, such as when there is a crane in the middle of the road. In many of these cases, no signs are put up at the entrance of the road in question, and very often drivers have to reverse all the way back, much to their frustration.

All this could be avoided if there is a better planning and managing of roads works. Just a little more thought would make the traffic flow easier and less hectic.