Infrastructure Malta has failed to complete upgrading work in Marfa Road before the summer months as previously planned, with the remaining part of the project to resume after the hot season ends.
The disruption is leading to chaotic situations now that we’re in the middle of summer, with many more people travelling to and from Gozo and bathers taking to the most popular beach, Ghadira, to spend the day swimming.
Parking along the northbound road, which was already a problem in past summers, is now even more of a nightmare and what is worse is that it is causing a danger as the two-lane stretch is not wide enough, after a pavement was constructed on the side.
The yellow line that zips all along the middle of the northbound stretch is creating even more confusion as, in places, cars on the inside lane have to cross over onto the outside lane to be able to proceed.
The parking area close to what was once the Mellieha Bay Hotel has been expanded, but it is still not enough to cater for the number of drivers who want to leave their vehicle for the day while they go to the beach.
Since the project started, it was not uncommon for traffic jams to pile up at either end. With the northbound road closed until recently, the southbound lane was for a time serving as a two-way stretch, meaning that drivers were forced to lower their speed. The northbound section was re-opened in May, but the road markings are rather confusing while road signs have not been installed as yet.
The Malta Independent contacted IM with questions regarding the delay in the completion of the project, questioning why the road works near the popular bay are still unfinished. Work on the upgrading of the stretch started in January and was supposed to have been finished within a few months. Half a year has passed and the project is not ready yet.
IM had said on its Facebook page that it is working with the Water Services Corporation to lay new underground pipelines and rebuild the northbound carriage way of Marfa Road, from Ghadira Bay towards Cirkewwa. The works did not involve all the road running along Ghadira Bay, but only the part from the roundabout off the Danish Village towards Cirkewwa.
A spokesperson for IM said that the carriageway’s new foundations and first asphalt layers were ready in May, which led to the opening of the road ahead of summer, a time when more drivers make use of it, both on their way to or from Gozo, or to go to Ghadira and other popular beaches in the north of Malta.
He said that IM worked with the Water Services Corporation to lay major water pipelines beneath the northbound carriageway of the road and to rebuild this carriageway with new pavements and pedestrian crossings.
Drivers have observed that the pavement on the northbound stretch of the road is too wide when there was no need for it to be so, given that most people prefer to walk on the sandy beach side of the area. When cars are parked on the side, the road is too narrow for a two-lane system.
The spokesman said that during summer only some minor works are in progress without impacting road users and beach-goers, and that final works in this carriageway will continue after summer.
He also said that IM is planning to rebuild the southbound carriageway of Marfa Road during the implementation of a separate Ministry for Tourism project to regenerate the bay’s promenade, which he said is scheduled to commence in October.
More disruption and traffic issues are expected when the work on the southbound stretch starts later this year, as drivers will face the same problems they were challenged with this past winter when the northbound carriageway was being reconstructed.
This newsroom also asked about a section of the road leading from Mellieha centre towards Ghadira, where a part of a retaining wall that supported the road above Ta’ Ruman Valley had collapsed. Works to rebuild this were promised to be finished within two weeks when they started in June, yet four weeks have passed and the road is still unfinished.
Asked about this, the spokesman said that “the agency initially planned to rebuild the upper part of this high wall, which collapsed into the valley earlier this year. However, when the rubble was cleared, the agency identified weaknesses in its foundations, necessitating additional reconstruction works,” he said.
“Since these new works must be carried out from the valley floor and not from the road itself, IM is now collaborating with the Environment and Resources Authority to continue these works without adversely affecting the surrounding rural environment,” the spokesman said.
He added that in the meantime the road remains open in both directions, at a reduced speed limit and with the required lighting and signage.
For the first few days while work was taking place, officers were seen directing traffic along this winding stretch. This helped reduce the danger, particularly when buses and other heavy vehicles were using the road. However, in more recent weeks the officers are no longer seen on the site.