450 streets to be surfaced by 2008

Roads Minister Jesmond Mugliett yesterday unveiled a list of 450 residential roads that will done up by 2008 at a cost of Lm8 million.

Addressing mayors and contractors, Mr Mugliett said ministry and ADT officials recently visited all towns and villages in Malta to catalogue and take photos of each street.

In a bid to get the best value for money, Mr Mugliett said the ministry was in talks with the Federation of Industry over issuing tenders in a new format - concentrating on the value of the project rather than the individual jobs.

Contractors that do not complete the work on time or whose work is not up to standard will not be given further contracts.

The 450 roads which are to be done up include 400 which have never been surfaced. The works have been divided into two phases. The first phase includes 213 roads at a value of Lm2.6 million.

Calls for tenders using the current system have already been issued for works on 80 of these roads and the first of them will be decided in the coming days.

The minister that since 2004, Lm47 million had been spent on roads which included funds from the EU and Italian Protocols.