Having read Minister Jesmond Mugliett recent articles in the local media, I cannot resist pointing out a number of issues and asking some pertinent questions in relation to the new roads.

There is no doubt that these appear to have been constructed in a very sound and professional way. It is only time that will confirm this. At this point, however, I dare to ask a number of questions for which the Minister, or those responsible, should directly and unequivocally reply to in relation to road use and design:

Considering the large number of heavy vehicles that “own” our roads, did the “expert” designing these new roads take into account the effect such vehicles have on the flow of traffic? Why are most of the new roads being turned into single-lane traps with no hope of overtaking even if well within legal speed limits? The end result of these ridiculous designs is definitely that of killing traffic flow, raising frustration levels to the limit and unnecessarily and substantially increasing journey times and fuel consumption.

Has this expert realised that heavy vehicles in Malta cannot even dream of driving anywhere close to the speed limit, besides the trail of dust, debris and smoke they leave behind? I know that this is not the case in Germany.

There are instances where good land has been requisitioned, or otherwise taken over, along these new roads only to be replaced by ridiculously wide pavements and concrete centre-strips. These extra-wide pavements, which serve no real purpose other than to turn our roads into single-lane ones, have already become the joke of both local and foreign drivers. What is the real agenda behind this?

Who is the Project Manager or responsible body that decided on the temporary alternative routes, without giving a hoot as to their drivability? Look at the Zebbug, Siggiewi and Mgarr disasters. Look at those long traffic jams trying to get out of the Zebbug / Siggiewi area in the last year. Drivers have been and are still being treated like dirt.

Why is no, or negligible, soft landscaping being provided? Why are brand new road-markings already fading? The road between Zebbug and Qormi is a case in point.

Who has determined the very long completion periods given for the construction of these roads? Real professional European road builders would have completed them in less than half the time. If the problem was resources, why were so many roads built at the same time? An example of this is the Zebbug / Siggiewi road, work on which has already taken eight months, with another few weeks still to go. If those responsible care to visit, it would be blatantly clear to them that very little activity has been going on there, with work being carried out by what looks like part-timers.

Have the new roads been designed, constructed and certified to take the large number of heavy vehicles on the roads and the loads they carry? Are all such vehicles certified and approved (VRT please note) to carry the loads they do and is their axle weight in line with local / European norms or regulations? If they have illegal or excessive axle weight, which is undoubtedly the case, there is then no question as to who is one of the main culprits for the disastrous condition of our roads in the first place. If this is allowed to continue, the newly rebuilt roads will be back to how they were in a very short time.

I dare those responsible to give plausible and convincing replies to the above, failing which I leave it to the readers to arrive to the obvious conclusions. I can assure those responsible that a lot of drivers are asking these same questions and demand explanations. If the Minister is not happy about such things, he should do something about it rather than attempting to justify the contractors or console users.

Gone are the days that people will forget after some time Mr Prime Minister.

Charles Debono

SIGGIEWI