Grand Harbour breakwater bridge to be reconstructed

David Falzon

Feb 15th 2009, 21:04

But why is it that this government always gets its priorities wrong. I bet 90% of the maltese population were waiting for this bridge. Wrong! the whole population are waiting to have decent roads.

Joseph Angileri

Feb 15th 2009, 08:27

Its another eyesore that was degrading for decades the entrance of our Grand Harbour. This will complete the much needed facelift of the area from taht iz-ziemel sal-Fossa which is the most facinating area, round the Fort Saint Elmo Bastions.

Anthony Pace Gouder

Feb 15th 2009, 03:02

@ Emerson Farrugia

For your information , all ROAD JUNCTIONS , FLY -OVERS or INTER-CHANGES are being shelved . As declared by Dr. Austin GATT at the end of last year .

Vincent Galea

Feb 14th 2009, 16:16

Adding luster to what is already beautiful.

Anthony Pace Gouder

Feb 14th 2009, 15:38

A Bridge too far , Dr. GATT..... I agree that this bridge needs to be re-constructed , some day.
But again , seems that lately you're EVERY TIME GETTING YOUR PRIORITIES WRONG. ! ! !
Same as the Ghadira Bay Road . Probably one of the best DESIGNED roads and needn't any repairs or Re-surfacing as is being done to some road at present . Your Ministry need not transfer this Road inland to achieve the scope(or excuse) of safeguarding the beach.
Structural Works at both ends (short via-ducts), even straightening by shifting the road (north end) 20 to 30 meters inland and re-routing the south end section to pass behind "that hotel " joining MELLIEHA BY-PASS 100 Meters up AND hopefully also joining the old ROAD coming down TO GHADIRA . DO YOU HAVE A THINK TANK IN YOUR MINISTRY? Good DAY. .. nearly forgot to tell ... .... Don't forget to place the inauguration plaque at the dead-end of that Breakwater Bridge .

Jesmond Micallef

Feb 14th 2009, 15:32

@ Paul Barrett

Re-newable energy resources are important for the island, for sure. But Malta is an island still under re-construction, yes even after over 60 years when european nations declared war on themselves and bombed Malta with all their technological expertise..........!!!!

With regards to your previous comment saying "If a bridge is really vital (having done without it for 60 odd years), then a rope bridge would be cheaper and more easily replaceable."

When it comes to rope bridges, you usually find those in primitive civilisations, civilisations obviuosly not like that in Malta considering there is the worlds oldest free standing building. Thank god these buildings where not destroyed during WW2, not like Dresden or Coventry.

Luigi Cassar Manghi

Feb 14th 2009, 15:11

Conceptually the decision to rebuild the bridge leading to the breakwater is wonderful, a lifetime’s dream. The breakwater and its lighthouse is a beautiful masterpiece. However, due consideration must be given to these points:
Why is the crumbling and rusty iron pillar (one remaining out of two) not replaced with a new set of pillars that would support the new bridge in the middle? Why should this rusty junk be “scheduled” and protected, since surely it will rust entirely within the next 20 years? Without support in the middle, the new single-span bridge may be too heavy and cause damage to the masonry of the breakwater.
Finally, the public should have access to the breakwater, lighthouse and internal tunnel as well, but a secure ring fence, stainless steel or rustproof, should be built all around. Without public access this project would be a waste of money.

Matthew Borg Cardona

Feb 14th 2009, 15:02

I think this is where we should flaunt some contemporary architectural design especially since there are no plans to construct a replica of the original Victorian bridge.

Jesmond Micallef

Feb 14th 2009, 14:50

@ Paul Barrett & David Muscat : Yes, we got money, but maybe the living quarters for the much beloved British Army, Royal Air Force, and Royal Navy officers enjoyed the benefits of that....!!!!!!

Well Done Malta and the native Maltese people !!! I LOVE YOU and I am so proud that you are of no threat to any of our big brother nations, those that destroyed it in the first place !!!

I hope that talented native Maltese architects, engineers and builders will execute this project in its entirety !!!

Steph Camilleri

Feb 14th 2009, 14:33

2.8 million euro for bridge to nowhere - what a waste of money?

Regeneration around the harbour region without any economic gain - what sort of priorities are these - perhaps the minister wants to seem to be doing something after 11 months (not nine as quoted in the article above) in power.

Adrian Vella

Feb 14th 2009, 14:26

I fully agree with the reinstatement of wartime ruins. However it does not make sense to spend that amount of money for the reconstruction of the bridge when the public is denied access to the breakwater. I suggest that access is limited only during rough weather to safeguard the public's safety and during the entrance or exit of naval vessels for security reasons.

Emerson Farrugia

Feb 14th 2009, 14:18

We're going to spend €2.8 million of public funds on an inaccessible bridge in a place nobody goes to? Are you serious?

If we're so desperate to build a bridge, how about we spend these €2.8 million on finally building an overpass in Kappara junction, a place THOUSANDS of tax-payers go to every HOUR?

J. Bugeja

Feb 14th 2009, 14:10

Can i ask if priorities exist in this country? I Believe that this money should be going for other important things such as fixing the state of our roads.
But obviously austin gatt nowadays understands in everything.. transport... IT ... electricity bills... and now the bridge... hmm dont tell me that no one is going to benefit from this bridge.. meaning tenders...

James Saliba

Feb 14th 2009, 14:02

Lets just hope that the costs do not escalate and that the work is done by people who are professionals in their work, unlike some other bridge about which we all know and which is already showing cracks.

Ivan Grech Mintoff

Feb 14th 2009, 13:30

You hit the nail on the head Paul!

Anyone who's ever been near the breakwater knows what stunning views there are to be enjoyed.

If "saftey reasons" are the real concern, then It can always have handrails (or whatever) places at an measely additional cost. It ca also be temporarily shut down during bad weather or other times of "danger".

But to build a brigde that is not to be used HAS to be the most ridiculous thing to do.

It's actually detrimental as it will only stop pleasure craft from passing through the area as they do now!! (long masts etc) the sacrifice would have been worth it if something else was achieved but a bridge to nowhere? Reminds me of the film Brigadoon!!

Unfortunately this joke is on entirely on us... whilst the contractor in question will no doubt be laughing all the way to the bank. If no public access then this money must be better spent on something else more useful !!!

V.Vella

Feb 14th 2009, 13:10

Reading the list of proects earmarked for the regeneration of Grand harbour I notice that the priorities are somewhat scrambled! Why invest such a large ammount of money on a bridge
that leads to knowhere and not invest on the Upper barrakka lift now? The thousands of trists visiting on the cruise liners would make this lift very profitable even if each is charged E10 but Who is going to benefit from the bridge? Get your priorities right dear Austin.

David Muscat

Feb 14th 2009, 12:36

The Germans did give us the money. We spent it on something else.

Paul Barrett

Feb 14th 2009, 12:34

"The plan is for the new bridge to be open to the public once it is completed by 2010. However, for safety reasons, there will be no public access along the breakwater"

A Bridge to nowhere - This is a total waste of time and money that could be better used towards other projects like renewable energy generation - something that the Country needs more than a bridge which serves no useful purpose and indeed if it looks like the old one, is quite ugly.

The next project will be a bridge to Gozo - open to the public but there will be no access to Gozo. Definately one for "only in Malta dot com.

E Gatt

Feb 14th 2009, 12:26

If there's not going to be public access to the breakwater then what's the point of having a bridge in the first place?

Eugenio Taliana

Feb 14th 2009, 11:30

I think in both this instance and that of the theatre at city gate the Maltese government should ask for the respective countries which were responsible in their destruction to provide the money, or part of it. After all it feels funny when a guide tells Italian and German tourists that it was them or their ancestors who destroyed both sites.

Claude Calleja

Feb 14th 2009, 11:01

We should focus more on road repair than these cosmetics for now! The government has ample other historical places to invest in than this!

Mike Magri

Feb 14th 2009, 10:43

It`s not that i am not in vavour of the rebuilding of this bridge, BUT at this moment in time i strongly think and feel, that the monies involved should be passed on to the ADT to use them on a more DEMANDING Priority, which is that of the CONTINEOUS building of our roads.