Dangerous Marsa road in eight-year limbo

A pedestrian subway that was planned to be built under a dangerous arterial road in Marsa eight years ago has still to see a single working hour dedicated to it, mayor Francis Debono complained yesterday.

Speaking at a press conference, metres away from Marsa's busy Racecourse Street, Mr Debono said all the efforts made to have the underpass constructed had been in vain.

Mr Debono produced a letter from the Transport Ministry, dated 18 September 18, 2000, saying that the contract for the civil engineering works had been awarded to Rockcut Ltd and that the order to start work would be issued "immediately".

Mr Debono said that sources in the Roads Department had informed him that the original contractor passed away about a year or two ago and, as a result, his business collapsed.

While the local council acknowledged the particular circumstances of the setback, it still could not understand the delay in securing a new contractor. "Eight years later, isn't it about time to take action and resume the project," Mr Debono asked.

Residents and horse enthusiasts as well as Maltapost employees who all habitually park their vehicles in the adjacent residential area, in which 60 to 70 families reside, face dangerous crossings daily, he said.

The Marsa Roads Department could not be contacted and questions sent to the Transport Ministry via e-mail were not answered.