Mdina paving finally complete

Mdina, the Silent City of will finally live up to its name after heavy machinery leaves the locality after five years to pave the way for the majestic surroundings it deserves.

Residents and tourists alike will heave a sigh of relief as the repaving works in Malta's oldest city are completed after years of dust and the odd archaeological find.

The Lm600,000 project will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi tomorrow evening.

The works included the provision of services through underground passages followed up with embellishment work. The main part of the project consisted of the laying down of more than 10,500 square metres of slabs covering 18 streets, three lanes and seven squares.

In a bid to restore the original features of the city, overhanging wires of street lighting were removed and replaced by conduit pipes laid in the walls.

Street lighting was boosted by uplighters while decorative lighting was installed around the main buildings of Mdina. The need to strengthen the provision of electricity to this area led to the installation of feeder pillars, which allow better distribution both to residences and for the street lighting.

Before the streets were resurfaced, works were carried out on the mains of the drainage system of St Paul Street and Inguanez Street.

The existing surface had to be removed in all the streets, lanes and squares before resurfacing could start. Workers made and laid down 600 manhole covers to facilitate the maintenance of underground services.

As residents and tourists alike complained about the delays and the clouds of dust, the project was delayed by the fact that archaeological remains were found while the work was in progress.

Heavy machinery had to be manoeuvred in narrow streets and lanes and deep trenches were dug in restricted spaces. And to top it all about 1,800 square metres of cobble stones ordered for the paving of Mdina were rejected by the Works Division as they were found to be of inferior quality.

During a walkabout last December, Opposition leader Alfred Sant lamented the delays to the works which he said were supposed to be completed by last June.

Mdina has a remarkable and chequered history which can be traced back to at least the 6th century BC.

The project involved the Ministry for Resources and Infrastructure, the Mdina Rehabilitation Project and the local council.