Attention turns to residential roads

Over Lm112,000 are being pumped into the construction of six residential roads in Gudja, covering a stretch of 600 metres.

The works, which include reconstruction of pavements, laying the foundation of the roads, services and tarmacking, should be completed by the end of next month.

Roads Minister Jesmond Mugliett yesterday visited the works, which are being funded by the government, which has committed Lm75,000, and the local council.

The roads covered in this project are Il-Barunissa, Il-Markiza, Xlejli, Iz-Zghozija, H. Pigot and Dorell. The project is being managed by the local council, with consultancy by the Malta Transport Authority (ADT).

Mr Mugliett said that apart from focusing its energy on the arterial road network, the government was also working to improve the situation of residential roads, which had a direct impact on the inhabitants in the area.

Following a report commissioned by the ADT on the state of urban and rural roads with a linking function, it was concluded that most of these roads were in a dire state of disrepair.

With this in mind the government, together with different local councils, was embarking on improving these roads, some of which have never been properly tarmacked for years.

Mr Mugliett said that in the coming years Malta would have the chance to benefit from structural and cohesion funds of the EU. "At the moment an extensive study on arterial roads and junctions in Malta and Gozo is being carried out to identify the work that has to be done. Once this is completed we can draw up a strategy for a long-term programme on the entire network," he said.