Infrastructure Malta has rebuilt 130 residential roads in the first year of the €700 million, 7-year project.
Speaking during a visit at Mensija Road in San Ġwann, one of the roads that has been rebuilt, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Ian Borg announced that work is currently underway on 50 additional roads while 150 other roads are contracted for the coming months.
These roads amount to more than 100 kilometres, and since the projects are being done holistically, around 370 kilometres of services and 215 kilometres of new pavements are planned for these road rebuilding projects.
“The greatest satisfaction is that thanks to this work we already have thousands of families who have started benefitting from high quality residential roads and a better living environment. The greatest satisfaction is that in the six coming years all families will be experiencing this”, said Minister Borg.
He added that this is possible because the government took up this responsibility which local councils had neither the funds nor the technical resources to implement. The minister said that now councils can invest their funds in community projects while participating in consultation with the government to give priority to roads where immediate work is truly necessary.
“Today the page has turned, and we are witnessing more efficient work through collective tenders, longer-term planning, because we consult with entities to avoid doubling the work and the inconvenience, work that considers the comfort of residents and divides longer roads into phases. We have set up an agency that is working efficiently; apart from these roads during this last year it implemented extensive emergency works on around 85 roads, including surfacing, repairs, pavements and water catchment system improvements, until these get their turn in this project as well”, Borg said.
He explained that the government is ensuring that resources, time and investment are distributed wisely to give due attention to residential roads, main roads as well as rural roads. He reminded those present that just last year we had a €64 million investment in 14 main roads, the first three Marsa Junction flyovers were opened, and work commenced on the Santa Luċija tunnels, while the Central Link Project has now moved ahead together with several pedestrian bridges and other projects.
“Our commitment to our country’s infrastructure is holistic. Everyone is equally important; the farmer using rural roads, the driver using main junctions and the resident living in a Maltese town or village. We are determined to continue delivering an improvement in quality of life for everyone and success in people’s homes with non-stop work”, Borg said.