Badly-needed roadworks start

The second and third lots of arterial and distributor road works funded by the fifth Italo-Maltese financial protocol started last week.

The scarifying of two parts of Zebbug Road leading from Rabat to Zebbug and Qormi was started last week. This forms part of a Lm12.5 million project due to be completed in November next year.

Italian contractors F.lli Basillotta Srl were entrusted with the reconstruction of the section from the junction near the Mtarfa Cemetery to the Siggiewi Road junction in Zebbug.

Work on the second lot of phase one involves the reconstruction of both carriageways of Zebbug Road up to the Zebbug road junction. Traffic going from Rabat to Zebbug is being diverted along Mdina Road and Zebbug Road.

Work on the other carriageway is expected to start this week, and traffic will be diverted along the same roads.

The work involves the complete reconstruction of the road surface, kerbs and construction of a service duct, and this stretch of road is expected to be finished by September.

Work is also going steadily on the 800-metre northbound carriageway of Zebbug Road. The first phase of the project entails the reconstruction of the road surface and kerbs, construction of a service duct and the shifting of all utilities including electricity, water, telephone and cable television. Northbound traffic is being diverted on the southbound carriageway, which has been temporarily converted to accommodate two-way traffic.

This phase of the project, entrusted to the Italian contractor and Maltese subcontractors Asfaltar Co. Ltd, is expected to be finished by mid-September, when work on the southbound carriageway is expected to start.

The reconstruction of the remaining part of the third lot, comprising Qormi Road from Qormi to the junction near the airport's cargo terminal, is expected to start before the end of summer.