Seventy streets to be built under strict deadlines

A total of 22 lots for works on 70 residential roads in 22 localities were yesterday drawn and assigned to 22 contractors, taking the number of street projects in the process of being carried out up to 170 out of a programme of 450.

The value of work distributed yesterday amounted to Lm1.2 million of the Lm8 million allocated to the entire programme, which covers over 58 km of residential roads.

It marked a "historical volume of road works assigned at one go", said Roads Minister Jesmond Mugliett. Normally, such an amount of work would be spread over around eight months.

The process of awarding the period contracts was speeded up by the establishment of fixed prices in an agreement that was negotiated over six months between the Malta Transport Authority and the Federation of Industry, which represents the contractors.

The issuing of tenders for each road would have been too complex to manage, even though 100 other residential roads had already been allocated in such a manner.

The fixed rates, this time round, had accelerated and facilitated the procedure, reducing administration, Mr Mugliett pointed out.

Wilfred Kenely, FOI director general, described the agreement with the ADT as a win-win situation, which would also be to the benefit of residents, apart from increasing the rhythm and amount of work.

It was the first time contracts had been issued on such a scale, he said.

The construction programme for residential roads 2006-2008 meant a radical change, particularly as regards quality and timeframes, the minister said. In fact, the period contracts had mechanisms in place to control these, and if contractors did not adhere to them they would not be eligible to apply for the next drawing of the lots and would be excluded from the process, Mr Mugliett warned.

The government would not be accepting delays and poor-quality work, he insisted. It was now up to the contractors to rise to the challenge.

Contractors were also obliged to send their foremen on a road construction course, which is starting in January for those who had not done the first one earlier on in the year.

The works, which all amount to the same value, Lm60,000 - barring three reduced work packages, allotted to companies that did not have direct experience in road works and were valued at about Lm30,000 - would be starting around mid-January.

The contractors just had to apply for the necessary permits at the Malta Environment and Planning Authority and works could kick off. The Lm60,000 jobs would have to be completed within four months, while the other three projects in two months, Mr Mugliett said.

He said the plan was to complete the entire programme of construction of residential roads, launched in August, by 2008, adding that the interest on the part of contractors, including new ones, augured well.

As yet, a third of the programme, aimed at improving the quality of life of those living in the 450 roads, was under way, with Hal Safi, Mtarfa and Siggiewi now among the list of localities that did not require any more works on residential roads, Mr Mugliett said.

As soon as works on the additional 70 roads were completed, a fresh batch of lots would be drawn, he said.