Next step: smooth, even pavements

I would like to praise the good work being carried out on many roads. Finally these roads are being built to high standards. We are seeing many roads totally reconstructed instead of the old way of continuously patching here and there, and ultimately leaving it for the rainwater to eradicate again.

We trust these works are being co-ordinated by all those concerned and hopefully the roads will not be dug up every time one department or another remembers that it needs to alter something.

Has it ever crossed your mind why so many people prefer to walk on the road rather than on the pavement? It might be simply because the pavement is not as even as the road or because there is no pavement. Old and even brand new pavements are not being built to serve the pedestrians.

Otherwise one would not see pavements like see-saws: every two or three metres they go up and down and then again up and down because of a garage. Imagine people with special needs on crotches and wheelchairs or even senior citizens walking on these irregular pavements.

Abroad, this would be considered an infringement of the law as the owners of the garages can't lower pavements, nor can they cement a slope at the side of the road. They ought to have removable wooden ramps that should be put next to the pavement once going in and out of their garages.

A case in point is Triq is-Swieqi. This street is one of the very best we have on our islands. It has a perfect, even road, water culverts and nice pavements, making this street very attractive, though the pavements do not properly serve the purpose they were built for, that is to comfortably walk on.

The pavements were built keeping in mind first and foremost the garage owners. One also sees many new pavements being asphalted with tarmac which I believe is really a pity and an eyesore.