Utilities blamed for cost overruns

Malta Transport Authority (ADT) officials have blamed the utility providers for cost overruns on the rebuilding of roads.

They said that the shifting and laying of new utility services, redesign of service ducts and the discovery of poor quality materials which needed to be replaced contributed substantially to cost over-runs of Lm5.7 million in the Lm30 million roads project funded under the Italian financial protocol.

Architects Mario Ellul and Robert Zerafa were addressing the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee as part of a debate requested by the Opposition spokesman on roads, Charles Buhagiar.

The officials said that in the majority of cases, utility service providers such as the Water Services Corporation did not know the exact location of their pipes and mains and ADT personnel had to go to their offices to map them out.

Moreover, the project itself was the first one of its kind insofar as its size and limited timeframe. Preparation and coordination had been difficult because information given by the utilities' engineers was not always precise and they were also over-optimistic on the condition of the pipes which already existed underground. Many such pipes eventually had to be replaced because they were either corroded, or they were not expected to last as long as the road.

A case in point was the drainage main on the road between Zebbug and Siggiewi which had to be replaced at a cost of Lm1.8 million.

Mr Buhagiar remarked that it was common knowledge that this main was defective because it overflowed whenever it rained.

The officials said an extra Lm1.4 million had to be spent on the five kilometre Burmarrad utility services duct which had to be excavated an extra 0.3 metres all the way after the tender was awarded as the utility services - mainly Enemalta, Maltacom and Melita Cable - emphasised that their workers had to have access to their cables at all points and periodic manholes along the route were ruled out.

Mr Zerafa said it was not fair that fingers of blame for the cost overruns were being pointed at the ADT when variations in the total cost projections were caused by the utilities.

Dr Mangion explained that the exercise was not meant to point fingers but to establish what went wrong and try to set procedures to avoid a repetition.

Mr Buhagiar pointed out that a situation where nobody was accountable could not go on.

Roads Minister Jesmond Mugliett said that as a result of this project, new procedures were introduced for the new works currently under way. They included provisions on who would be financially responsible for extra works after tenders were issued and awarded.

The hearing will continue next week.