Roads in Malta worse than Zimbabwe - report

GiovDeMartino

Sep 15th 2009, 11:40

Mhux nahsbu li ahna the best in the world, imma AHNA, VERAMENT the best. X'ghandna inqas, ahna minn pajjizi ohra hlief l-inkwiet kbir li ghandhom huma, kollha kemm huma. Gwerer, glied, terrorizmu, kidnapping, qtil ferm izjed milli nahsbu, serq kbir, dizastri kemm naturali kif ukoll 'man-made'....Haw kulhadd kwiet mohhu mistrieh li la hadd se jikkiddnappja lilu jew lil uliedu, Kulhadd jghix f'appartamenti lusssuzi li ma jonqoshom xejn, zewg karozzi ghal kull 3 min-nies, mobajl jilaghbu bihom it-tfal, safar, divertiment, kullimkiien full up, xalar, liri kbar ghand il-hairdressers, dawk r-tad-difrejn, beauticians, parties, tigijiet jiswew l-eluf, donazzjonijiet u maratono kull gimgha.....Inzlu gharkubbtejkom u nrringrajjaw lil Alla ghax ahna ma nafux x'barka haw. Tkellmu ma' dawk li jigu minn barra u taraw. Fl-ahhar mill-ahhar kull min ghandu par ghajnejn jisra jara dan kollu li ktibt haw fuq.

Miguel Micallef

Sep 15th 2009, 11:17

@GiovDeMartino

Mela ma taqrax news, man?!

Hahahahahahahahaha.

Mhux ta b'xejn nibqaw dejem ta' dan il-livell medjokri jekk nibqaw nahsbu li ahna 'the best in the world'.

A Zammit

Sep 15th 2009, 09:22

Sur De Martino, ghax komdu int ma jfissirx li komdu kulhadd. Ilek tiftahar li r restaurants mimlijin, ghax ma tarax x'jieklu! Anka drink jaqsmu bejn tnejn!

Reuben J Micallef

Sep 15th 2009, 07:54

.......and in this same newspaper our beloved incompetent ADT is urging drivers to register their foreign licences cars or they get a fine,maybe its too finance the roads.

But Im sure the ADT makes sure that the economy wheel keeps on turning,by leaving the roads in that state ,ADT makes sure that ,people repairing tyres ,selling rims etc etc have their income guranteed especially after some heavy rain.

GiovDeMartino

Sep 14th 2009, 20:13

Ghax ma tirringrazzjawx lil Hanin Alla li ahna haw ilkoll sinjuri. Araw l-*ahbarijiet u taraw hawx pajjiz kwiet u sinjur daqsna. IMKIEN FID-DINJA.

Julian Falzon@

Sep 14th 2009, 15:29

Come on chaps the roads in Malta are the best in europe, well at least its keeping the garage mechanic in business and also keeps one awake at all times when going to work early in the mornings, and when it rains heavy well what more do you want, we slide to work due to the heavy petrol and diesel on the roads thus saving fuel., Well its bl**dy well different then comparing roads with other countries, we are talking about Malta now and not Zimbabwe or India or whatever. Thank your lucky star you own a car alot of people have to bus it like myself.

Neville Calleja

Sep 14th 2009, 09:38

While resisting to discuss the merits of our roads compared to many other countries in Africa or elsewhere, allow me to remind you that even foreign surveys with big sounding names use shoddy methodology. We're seeing too many of them unfortunately. While I'm neither a geologist nor an architect, I'm sure there are more objective ways of quantifying road quality.

M Buhagiar

Sep 14th 2009, 09:37

Nixtieq naf min ghamel ir-rapport ghaddiex mit-triq li min Haz-zabbar tiehdok Bulebel u baqa tiela sal-Gudja ghax kieku kien jitfana zewg postijiet lura. Xi gimgha ilu taw kisja tarmac li kien hemm bzonnha sew ghax kienu l-Inglizi li taw l-ahhar tarmac hemm u ma ndenjawx ruhhom icaqalqu l-karozzi pparkjati fil-genb. Ghaddew bit-tarmac minn maghhom, nahseb unika din xi moda gdida :)

Joseph E Briffa

Sep 14th 2009, 09:09

One will notice that the worst roads are the ones flanked by houses. This is due to trenches dug for the house connections to the water and sewer mains AFTER tarmac has been laid, so there are bumps or subsidence every 4/5 metres on both sides of the road. Why must we continue to indulge in these stupid practices? Also, too much money is spent on rerouting roads like the Marsascala road; why wasn't the project limited to replacing the substratum and just resurfacing? The money saved could have been used for other roads which badly need the same treatment. The Zurrieq bypass is one such road, Sliema Rd in San Gwann (recently patched up) is another, stretches of the Rabat Road from Valetta, the hill to Rabat coming from Mosta etc The road resurfacing programme - not patching up - has slowed down and this at a time when Road Licenses have reached world records. Quarry trucks, concrete mixers and large mobile cranes are the biggest culprits of road subsidence, they should be made to pay much more for their road license - the polluter pays principle. The substratum has to be replaced first before resurfacing.

Joe Galea

Sep 14th 2009, 08:24

We don't need any report to tell us that our roads are worse than those in Zimbabwe. Even unpaved roads in the desert were much smoother than our best roads. In Europe, even roads in the middle of nowhere are meticulously made. I think the report was very kind with Malta.

Fenech M D

Sep 14th 2009, 07:42

U iwa nies, issa jigi l-Papa, u ibdew ghaddu minn fejn jghaddi hu, ghax ibqghu certi li dawn it-toroq jiehdu kisja tarmak ta malajr!

Ramon Casha

Sep 14th 2009, 05:51

This matches what I've seen in all other countries I've visited, the most recent being India and S.Africa. In other places there might be regions with poorly maintained roads, not everywhere. Not only that but when they do decide to resurface a road, they arrive in the early morning, work solidly and continuously and by the second day they're finishing off the road markings before moving on to a new task.

GiovDeMartino

Sep 13th 2009, 20:39

Have you noticed it? Some bloggers are more interested in telling us that they have been visiing so many diff. countries than to complain about our roads. Zimbabwe, Sudan, Somalia, Iran, Afghanistan.......they all have everything better than Malta. So why don't you make room for the thousands who are risking their lives to leave these places?

S. Camilleri

Sep 13th 2009, 18:52

Come on people ... road maintenance being dependent on joint MEPA/ADT collaboration ... did we expect it to be ANY different. I've driven on cart ruts in Europe , North America and the middle east that were better maintained than some of our so called main roads

Anthony Formosa

Sep 13th 2009, 18:45

Look at the positive side, the reason why the roads are bumpy is not to fall asleep while you are touring around the Island.

@ To all. Did you take your car for VRT? now you can drive safely.

John Azzopardi

Sep 13th 2009, 15:53

Yes they have deteriorated to third world proportions. Coming from the town of Nadur Gozo, we have been hearing of roads being tarmaked since the 60's. Take for example Ramla Road from Rabat to the playing field. It's been in state of utmost disrepair. We have 2 MPs from Nadur and still it doesn't help and one of them lives on the said main road. Really a big shame.

C. Camilleri

Sep 13th 2009, 14:49

What a SHAME!!!!!

Bernie Boswell (Downunder)

Sep 13th 2009, 14:18

ROADS IN MALTA WORSE THEAN ZIMBABWE the Heading says, i go one further worse then the worst road in the outback of my home country of Australia. Your ADT was going to charge me a while back to drive my 14 month old Merk i bought locally, i said bluntly to the man, you mean to say i got to pay to drive on these diabolical roads mate? my reply was come on mate, you pay me for the privilage to drive on your roads, knowing getting a refund is like getting blood out of a stone impossible, i resold the motor and left the country back to my lovely Barrier Reef up Queensland.. what a cheek paying to ruin a perfectly good motor Huh! G'day. B.Boswell

Joanne Micallef

Sep 13th 2009, 12:55

No slogan, no matter how positive or catchy can hide these facts. And to think that many voted for our entry in the EU believing that by doing so we’ll finally get this minute island resurfaced properly with UE standard roads……..Biex int Tghix Ahjar

Peter Gatt

Sep 13th 2009, 12:54

I have been driven through large areas of South Africa and Namibia by members of the Geological Surveys of both countries which happen to border with Zimbabwe. The quality of the roads were excellent!

Both Namibia and South Africa rely on a scientific classification of aggregate (used for road making) drawn up by geologists.

In Malta we just have road designers (periti) who know little about the geology and processes of the terrain and the aggregate used in road making. The results of this can be seen everywhere in Malta.

Prospects will remain the same until the MTA realises that geology has an important contribution to road quality and durability.

T Farrugia

Sep 13th 2009, 12:39

so true!!!!! over the last year the bumps in the roads have increased so much!!! even new roads are bumpy!!!! and it snot just small bumps. most of them are so deep!!!!

Joseph Schembri

Sep 13th 2009, 12:20

"There are lies, damn lies and statistics."

Of course we emerge behind Zimbabwe when it comes to quality of roads if most roads in Zimbabwe are unsurfaced and only roads covered in tarmac are considered in the report.

The Cote d'Ivorie better than Malta? Then what are the hordes of Ivorians flocking to Malta doing here? If you give a starving man a stale loaf and ask him if it is good he will give you a thumbs up. Try giving it to an overfed European and you'll be sued!

Adrian Vella

Sep 13th 2009, 12:08

"When news of the Pope's expected visit to Malta broke on timesofmalta.com yesterday, the first comment read: "Good news! Let's start repairing the roads. Maybe by then the stretch where the Pope will be driven through will be completed!"

HOW VERY TRUE.... WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE QUEEN , CHOGM OR A POPE TO COME OVER AND HAVE OUR ROADS temporarily FIXED

Louis Gatt

Sep 13th 2009, 12:04

Indeed Malta's roads are in very bad state. One can easily include driving manners and the observation of traffic regulations. What puzzles me is not these actual aggravations, but the way the Authorities seem to ignore the fact! Why does MEPA and ADT ignore the pityful state of our roads? Is it part of a big joke or something?

Joseph Cauchi

Sep 13th 2009, 11:59

“These indicators are assessed through a respected Executive Opinion Survey, meaning selected business executives in each country are asked to assess their country's business climate”.

So, these surveys are conducted as per the above, i.e. “meaning selected business executives in each country are asked to assess their country’s business climate”

But is this really the way to conduct surveys?

What happens if by chance those surveyed woke up in an excellent mood and assess our country’s climate as “excellent”, when interviewed?

Shall we then rest on our laurels and content ourselves as our country is the number one on the list and is this, the best way to conduct such surveys?

I am baffled!

JC.

Philip B Cortis

Sep 13th 2009, 11:56

Well, I've witnessed flawless roads for 2,200Km in South Africa, better roads in Mauritius, Egypt, Jordan and Syria.

When we think of ourselves as a developed country with good standards of living and now EU members, it's simply a shame on the authorities, but then, the authorities have to make sure your car brakes down sooner then later so they get more taxes from car registration

Charles Sammut

Sep 13th 2009, 11:53

This is the result of the Robin Hood, socialist mentality of this government. Robbing Peter to pay Paul, that's how the motorist is treated in Malta. We have probably the highest car taxes in Europe. We have an extortionately high 'circulation tax' and the smallest road network in the EU with by far the worst road conditions in the northern hemisphere (and most of the southern one too).

So where does the money wringed out of the motorist end up? Shoring up the creaking and abused welfare system which is used more and more to 'buy' votes come election time. Now imagine if the PL were in government and the roads were is such a dilapidated state. We would have the PN organising protests and slow driving blocking main arteries. Remember the pots and pans banging in Valletta when there used to be water cuts in the 1980s? But the PL is incompetent and lethargic even in opposition!

D Farrugia

Sep 13th 2009, 11:45

I wish the pope will visit Siggiewi area, go and have a look at Ta Kandia Road it is worst then a 3rd world country road. I do not know what local council or Gov is waiting for (I think I know there is no money). This road is very good for people crossing from south to the north area or people working in Kirkop & Halfar factories and effective to minimize traffic that will soon start in Luqa tunnels areas as school starts.

E. Pavia

Sep 13th 2009, 11:35

If all the money allocated to the roads are really invested in road works then we'll have good roads...n not to mention what quality of material is used... Contractors should be really responsible of building good roads and a guarantee of 10 years should be given. If problems arise they will fix it immediately. Everyone looks at their pocket in this little island which should be just simple to manage.

GiovDeMartino

Sep 13th 2009, 11:19

As long as it is the Maltese themselves who judge our roads, hosptals, schools, transport etc....Malta will certainl;y find itself at the very bottom of the scale.....We all know what happens in certain countries were females are flogged, imprisoned, killed because.....they wore a pair of jeans....bec. someone , a male, downloaded information on women's rights...Yet so many bloggers very often compare Malta to Afghanistan, Iran WE, the people, are really tal-M. Mouse. Some of us at least because there are mony others who do not try to ridicule anything Maltese. Crtisize yes, but trying to make fun of anything you do not like no.

Deo Catania

Sep 13th 2009, 11:16

Total disgrace. Well we didn't have to wait for this report to know that Maltese roads are worse than third world countries. Our government doesn't care one bit about this situation, gonzipn is more keen to waste €80,000 on the new proposed Parliament building rather than improve our roads.

Galea. L

Sep 13th 2009, 11:15

Need we be surprised?
This simply confirms what the Maltese people have been saying for ages.

C.Agius

Sep 13th 2009, 10:44

'BRAND MALTA' - here we go again.

I suggest that the Gov. invites a head of state to visit Malta every six months - maybe then we'll have decent roads - but please use also the by-roads.

Darby Allen

Sep 13th 2009, 10:41

So there are 36 countries, amongst the 133 surveyed, which have worse roads than Malta: I find that very difficult to imagine!