Faulty inspection equipment stalls roads resurfacing project

The resurfacing of three roads in Żebbuġ has to wait because the Drainage Department is unable to conduct the necessary inspection as its only CCTV system used for the purpose is out of order and has to be replaced.

The local council had applied for permits from the Malta Transport Authority (ADT) on June 3 and the process was going through the normal motions until the Drainage Department said it wanted to inspect the sewage pipes in the roads in question using CCTV equipment.

The department had been informed by the ADT as a matter of procedure, which involves flagging any roadworks to different organisations that have services running through such roads.

Once the Drainage Department got involved the whole thing stopped, Żebbuġ mayor Brian Bonnici said. The council was told the inspection could only take place when the CCTV equipment was replaced.

The Times sent questions to the department about the case but they remained unanswered at the time of writing.

The roads the council is planning to resurface are Tumas Dingli, l-Għasfura and Adeodato Gatt streets. The job will cost the council nearly €112,000. The project included the laying of services underneath the pavement and the construction of new pavements.

The mayor said the resurfacing project was part of a larger plan that would see the resurfacing of a total of 17 roads in the locality. The council would be starting work on another two roads instead until it was in a position to resurface the planned roads.

Mr Bonnici said this was not the only project that had been stalled because of the complacency of the authorities. When it was planning on resurfacing Dun Karm Psaila Street, it took the Water Services Corporation three months to lay new pipes. The council had to wait for 18 months to be given the necessary permits for another project: a public garden.

He said the council had written to the Parliamentary Secretary for Public Dialogue, Chris Said on the issue and even informed the residents of the problems it was facing.