The government is insisting that works on Manwel Dimech bridge, which are weeks behind schedule, should be expedited and concluded before May, the Department of Information said yesterday.

The contractor has proposed the end of May for completion but the Malta Transport Authority has indicated the end of March as the date for “practical completion”. Talks were still being held.

The DOI said the contractor has been asked to put more resources into the work to ensure that the works programme agreed on would be adhered to.

Works on rebuilding the bridge have taken far longer than expected and have been in the line of fire of the opposition, which has accused the government of incompetence. Doubts have also been raised about the costs of, among others, consultancy fees.