The rebuilding of the Hal Far road has now reached its final stages, with the 600-metre stretch between the Hal Far barracks and the junction with Triq il-Gebel currently being surfaced with the first layer of tarmac.

Urban Development and Roads Minister Jesmond Mugliett yesterday said that this project, which was co-financed by the EU’s Regional Development Fund, should be used as a benchmark on how similar large projects should be managed in the future.

Despite numerous unexpected setbacks, including the relaying of a new main drainage system between Hal Far, Benghisa and the Malta Freeport, the Hal Far Road project is expected to be completed as stipulated by the contract, that is by November. All in all, the project will cost e4.7m, 75 per cent of which will be financed by the EU.

This infrastructural project is the last act of a comprehensive programme, begun a few years back, to link the Malta International Airport to the Malta Freeport. Among the completed works is the rebuilding of a three-kilometre road in compliance with Class Number One of the standards of the Malta Transport Authority. This type of road is capable of sustaining 10 million heavy vehicles during its design life.

Different sections of the Hal Far Road are ready to receive their first tarmac layer. After the first 600 metres are surfaced, a 900-metre portion between the junction with Ghar Hasan and the Freeport will be completed by the end of next week.

Mr Mugliett said that by next month, another big project, Civil Aviation Avenue, will also be opened to traffic. With the completion of the two roads in the south of Malta, a nine-kilometre route of the highest European standards will be finalised.

These streets make up about 18 per cent of the roads listed in the EU’s TEN-T network, Mr Mugliett said.