€4m for road repairs - planned works listed

Franco Tabone

Oct 12th 2009, 17:29

Not even one road in Gozo is mentioned. We are fed up of these bad roads & besides they create so much peril to the driver.Even 3rd countries have better roads than ours. Our roads are compared to the surface of the moon and the State should pay us money in order to place & ruin our new cars on these roads. Maybe the person concerned should try to make contacts with well-known companies that manufacture tyres to bring them to Malta especially to Gozo to try & advertise their tyres here as I'm sure they will have a success to show their quality of tyres against the rugid roads we have. Last Winter I had 8 punctures and had to change & buy 2 new tyres as they were badly damaged. Stop taking us for a ride and if you like to have some fun come to Gozo and we will provide you some donkeys to ride for fun. Two main roads were supposed to be done according to their electoral and EU program which were Mgarr to Victoria,but only Mgarr to Gh'Sielem was done & the other was Victoria to San Lawrenz but they stopped in Gharb. Very nice.

Kathy Elliot

Oct 12th 2009, 14:59

Aaaaaand... High Street, Hamrun, one of the most traversed roads in Malta, is not on that list! Phew, I'm glad! I won't have to worry about the end of the world before Christmas this year.

r ferriggi

Oct 12th 2009, 10:40

4 million euros????

what the heck is going to be done with 4 million euros??

is this a joke??

Charmaine Marmara'

Oct 12th 2009, 09:03

4 million :-)))))) u ddahqunix... b 4 miljuni anqas taghmlu kwart tal lista li hemm u ma dik il lista hemm daqsa darb'ohra . tat tyres sejrin tajjeb ghax ma kull harga li naghmlu bil karrozza trid tmur tirranga tyre wara.

Ian Zammit

Oct 11th 2009, 12:23

Unbeliebale but true, Madliena roads have again been forgotten and I challege ADT as to why these roads are not being redone. Next time I need new tyres due to the bad state of our roads I shall be taking this up with the ADT and suggest that anyone suffering the same ailment should do likewise. I cannot beiev that Madliena is being left out BUT then no elections in site.......

a attard

Oct 11th 2009, 11:46

....after 5 years as part of the EU one would have expected that we would have benefitted in a serious plan to rebuild our roads to world standards and not have them patched to humped up with the first bout of hot weather or getting potholed after every storm............

James Mizzi

Oct 11th 2009, 10:40

Zabbar - only those 2 roads listed? How about Triq l-10 ta' Settembru and Triq il-Kunsill ta' l-Ewropa, which are both main roads and both in a such depleted state. Shame on you ADT.

G,Schembri

Oct 11th 2009, 10:07

As E Muscat said, the stretch of road between Zurrieq and Qrendi is in a disasterous state. Don't we pay taxes like all other Maltese citizens. This road is used regularly by Qrendi residents, since have neither a bank nor a post office, we have to use these services at Zurrieq. The bus wich takes us to hospital passes through this road as well, ask amy elderly or sick person how difficult it is to travel to hospital on this bus.
The irony is that both Qrendi and Zurrieq Local Councils resurfaced their part of the road, and it's only the middle part that needs resurfacing, this road shows how LP local councils are more efficient than our central government. I wonder what would happen if all Qrendi, Zurrieq and Mqabba drivers decided to take the government to court for expences incured by all the potholes in this road, I had to change three tyres in the last 15 months.

E Muscat

Oct 11th 2009, 08:49

When the stretch of road between Qrendi and Zurrieq which is in disastrious state is being resurfaced with tarmac?Last winter it was full of potholes and small craters,and hope that this did not repeat again this winter.The ADT immediately,not wait until when Valletta Road repair works begin,to make this road a decent one for the benefit of all citezens especially Qrendi residents who use it frequently.

Emanuel Scicluna

Oct 11th 2009, 07:06

Valletta Rd Zurrieq is always on the promises list of this government but it will never be done. What can we expect from a government of dreams and fantasies? Answer= Bla, Bla, Bla

j.spiteri

Oct 11th 2009, 05:47

@G Grech
Ask Mrs Giovanna if you want your street resurfaced. Thats' the rule in Gozo. Or is it Christ Said you have to beg now?

E. Azzopardi

Oct 11th 2009, 00:45

This we need very badly. but as always, the amount of money is never enough. Can't those in the construction industry contribute towards these expenses? After all, it seems that a lot of the damage to our roads is done by their big trucks which, in the opinion of many, are too heavy for our roads. Now there you are, you can attract "some" sympathy towards your industry.

L. Gauci

Oct 10th 2009, 18:11

It seems that no one from ADT has ever visited Swieqi, and so do not realise the state of our streets. I would like to invite them to pay a visit to this area after a downpour. If they do, maybe they would realise that the streets in this completely forgotten area are badly in need in a new coat of tarmac.,

SILVANA BORG

Oct 10th 2009, 17:48

B'kara by pass is going to be repaired, which part? It seems in a very good state compared to Triq ta Zwejt San Gwann. This road is in a very bad shape and part of it is in a very dangerous state(it is even barred) thanks to the recent rain connects Ta Zwejt with the Industrial Estate Mater Dei Hospital, B'Kara By pass, Valletta etc. The upkeep of this road seems to fall neither under Malta Enterprise, San Gwann Local Council, not central government cause when I complain about this road, the mentioned entities seems to play ping pong and say that it does not fall within their remit.

R Axisa

Oct 10th 2009, 17:34

Very said Mr Anthony Pace. I had already sent a comment earlier re Valletta road, Zurrieq, but for some reason or other it wasn't published. With all these comments on various roads in such bad conditions, it seems that the Maltese are walking on the moon!

gina colada

Oct 10th 2009, 17:08

What a nice list. Pity Gozo roads are not found in these list!!!
Probably al our roads are spick and span!!!

joe scerri

Oct 10th 2009, 17:07

4M for roads and 80M (a figure which will spiral out of control) for a parliament which we DO NOT need.

Tony Caruana

Oct 10th 2009, 17:06

Just think how many more roads could have been done with Austin's Gatt Bridge to no where !!!

George Cremona

Oct 10th 2009, 16:48

Isn't ADT responsible for Gozo as it is for Malta? Gozo is completely absent from the list. Why? Is it because Gozo's streets and roads satisfy ADT's standards? If in the affirmative, then ADT's standards are of third world levels not European. In this case they need to be revisited.

John Smith

Oct 10th 2009, 16:22

The main road of Ta' Xbiex Coast Road, Ta' Xbiex Terrace, are used by heavy traffic, tourist open air buses, and bus routes from Sliema to Valletta, yet this main road is in a very bad stated and was not listed to be mended. No wonder the people of this area have now decided not to support the Government in any forthcoming elections. You just deserve this, because this area had been totally neglected.

Darren J. Galea

Oct 10th 2009, 16:20

The fact that the government is ready to spend EUR4m on the roads (which are in a pitiful state) whilst simultaneously earmarking EUR80m for a new parliament speaks for itself.

N.Cortis

Oct 10th 2009, 15:54

"Girdle Road"-- Zabbar,which happens to be a very busy and most frequented by all kinds of transport,is in a very depleted state!!! I don't know who evaluated the road priority resurfacing program------but I think that whoever he is,must have missed this road!!!! For the last 45 years I have been using this road,and if my memory serves me right,I have never seen this road being given a new surface of any tarmack during this period of time!!!! Not even when the Pope passed from this particular road! I am sure that members of parliament,from both sides(even different ministers) uses this road,and I am amazsed how no one ever brought to the attention of whoever is responsable to make the necessary uplift of this road.All drivers who usees this road knows exactly what I am talking about.So,ministers,and all MP's from Kottonera,please wake up and make your voices heard-----It-is about time that this road be given a good surface!! Works on this road should be treated with utmost urgency!!

Alfred Baldacchino

Oct 10th 2009, 15:32

While on the subject I have to point out two areas which need urgent attention:
the road going along Dingli Cliffs, and the road from San Lawrenz to It-Tieqa and
the Inland Sea in Gozo.

Arthur Ellul

Oct 10th 2009, 14:47

What about High Street in Hamrun, isn't 4 million vehicles in a year a enough to have this road resurfaced,

And the Rabat Road from the Fleur de Lys roundabout to the Traffic lights near Attard, why doesn't this road qualify for repairs since the surface is a complete disaster both sides.

victor pulis

Oct 10th 2009, 14:36

Any chance of adding Senglea water front now that thousands of tourists arriving at the Senglea cruise liner terminus will soon start using it, and Cospicua Road Fgura?

Ivan Attard

Oct 10th 2009, 14:29

What a load of hogwash! How about road maintenance and upkeep for a start? Some of the recently done Italian protocol and EU funded roads are already in a state of disrepair!
...and just why Gozo does not feature anywhere is perplexingly cruel considering the miserable state of most of the roads there! Xlendi road gets the prize as well us the unfinished 'Victoria - San Lawrenz' scandal which road finishes just at the tip of Gharb!!
..keep on with the withewash Gonzi!

Alex Sammut

Oct 10th 2009, 14:17

Dear Malta Transport Authority, please note that we, Swieqi residents, pay our taxes too. Thank you kindly ! Remember the music band THE POLICE and their song Walking On The Moon? Singer Sting must have envisioned Triq il-Keffa in 2009 when he wrote that song :-)

marthese zammit

Oct 10th 2009, 13:28

It is always good to drive on good roads especially during the winter when a lot of our roads get flooded like triq 10 ta settembru1797 and triq il kunsill ta l-ewropa both roads that lead one from zabbar to zejtun and the other from zabbar to fgura and triq il qasam industrijali zejtun these roads are so bad and full of poth holes.Please make our roads safe because a lot of accidents can be saved from occurring and a big thanks to who was in charge of patching part of the road that leads to hal farrug as it was in a bad state and a hazard to drivers as are so the big trucks being driven through the mentioned road at very high speed which will soon will lead to aa accident

a refalo

Oct 10th 2009, 13:16

good point g grech....where is gozo in all this!!!

Mark Cushcieri

Oct 10th 2009, 13:06

4 million euros ..what a joke ..you wont even start with that amount

Joe Camilleri

Oct 10th 2009, 12:59

Santa Venera Tunnels!!!!!!...........were just built yesterday

P.Cassar

Oct 10th 2009, 12:53

As all Maltese now know this means 4 million euros down the drain because most patchworks last only till the next rains. Only the contractor is happy but all this money could have been spent in health etc etc.

David Camilleri

Oct 10th 2009, 12:52

WHAT ABOUT GOZO?! There are rumours Xlendi road is to be reconstructed but there are other numerous roads in need of patchwork namely Triq l-Ewropa, Triq id -Dawwara, Wied is-Seqer.. all in Victoria.

S. Camilleri

Oct 10th 2009, 12:51

I'm sure that hidden in the list of roads prioritised for uphaul are hidden the itineraries of Pope Benedict and probably King Juan Carlos.

They will obviously have to be driven through the Marsa roads to Valletta and maybe a visit passing through Regional Road is being planned. Looks like the Pope might even visit Mellieha (hence Mistra hill) and I suspect the King is off to Mdina

Joseph Vella

Oct 10th 2009, 12:51

What's the budget allocated for variations ??? :p

Anthony Pace

Oct 10th 2009, 12:45

For the last 2 Budgets the government has always referred to the construction and resurfacing of Valletta Road, Zurrieq, as this is an arterial road leading to the Blue Grotto and the temples. It seems that the government has decided to continue to say no to this road. Why are not the residents of Zurrieq citizens of Malta? When shall it be resurfaced?

K. Camilleri

Oct 10th 2009, 12:31

Not a single one in Gozo? what about xlendi road... or the road that leads to Azure Window... (One of the most famous attraction in Malta & Gozo). shame on the government that wants more tourists to come to Gozo. The Ministry of Gozo must WAKE UP......nothing is being done except going to "Business Breakfasts" & "meetings"... Where are the outcomes of these meetings?

J E Gatt

Oct 10th 2009, 12:25

What about St Luke's road G'Mangia near the hospital?

Louis Gatt

Oct 10th 2009, 12:16

Indeed a long overdue exercise! The ADT has a lot of lost ground to recover from the disastrous state of our roads. The roads mentioned to in this press release are just too few considering the areas requiring urgent attention. Why does it has to be sensational for anybody doing his duty? Road users deserve good roads by right and not by favour! Or is it that things have gone so bad that road users should rejoice and celebrate for having at titbit?

angelo camilleri

Oct 10th 2009, 12:16

what about valletta road going into zurrieq, its disgusting the state of that road, most of zurrieq traffic have to go through safi because of the state 0f this road.
if i missed it in the list below i apologise, but i dont think i did, read it about 3 times to make sure.

adrian aquilina

Oct 10th 2009, 12:15

nowhere near enough...the whole of malta needs doing to a proper standard now.....the infrastructure is a disgrace here and maybe a minister that can do the job is needed....didnt see sweiqi on the list.in the last 2 years it has become a mess....sort it out or stop taking our taxes

A. Vella

Oct 10th 2009, 12:14

I really hope that the tarmac used will be high quality like that of certain bends of St Paul's Bay by pass!!!

Paul Barrett

Oct 10th 2009, 12:13

The standard of road repair has improved quite a lot however I have noticed that some of the new repairs have not been "keyed" or "sealed" into the original road by the simple method of a few cents worth of hot liquid tar. This stops water entering between the joints and the joints breaking down causing holes to appear. The old saying of spend a penny to save a pound rings true here.

Without doubt there is something very wrong with the mixture used for white line marking. It is totally useless using the current mixture as it becomes virtually invisible within a very short time. Perhaps a new saying is required for this: Spend a cent to save a life.

As for the comments on sleeping policemen - they can be useful in the right places but there are far too many of them that are very badly constructed. A car traveling at a sensible speed should not suddenly be thumped up and down but travel over them smoothly. Nor should a car have to come to a virtual stop to negotiate them without damaging the suspension; that type is meant for car parks.

G Grech

Oct 10th 2009, 12:10

As usual Gozo does not feature

O. Sant' Angelo

Oct 10th 2009, 11:50

Are these works being planned by the same bright spark who scheduled the painting of broken white lines on B'Kara bypass for this morning? The obvious result was traffic along the entire bypass turning any 10min Saturday chore into an hour-long waste of petrol and exhaust fumes. Why not pay a few workers overtime to get it done at night?

Charles Micallef

Oct 10th 2009, 11:45

Will these repairs consists of resurfacing the major patchwork while ignoring the smaller repair works, allowing the contractors to eat all the flesh and leave someone else to pick at the bone as has been the case over many years ??????

The smaller repairs are then filled with cold tar which will last until the next rainfall, but life goes on with improving the contractor’s bank balances and at the same time allowing further disintegration of the roads networks, but then this is only the taxpayers’ problem!

Is this the pre-requisite for road repairs Mr Minister?

Karl Abela

Oct 10th 2009, 11:42

@Fenech

If you want to install sleeping police in every corner of the island then you might as well leave the roads as they are.

PM Camilleri

Oct 10th 2009, 11:38

And are we going to see the same poor quality standards being adopted again for these road repairs? The quality of the asphalt is important but what is even more important is the underlying structure of the road. If the structure is weak then it's useless patching up. Water also travels underneath roads. Balzan has been unlucky because it's not even mentioned in the list and we have some of the worst roads thanks to heavy construction vehicles making use of these roads which were never designed to handle heavy vehicles.

D Fenech

Oct 10th 2009, 10:55

Very good. Now whilst they are at it how about installing a few sleeping police men between the stretch of road - Ghar Dalam Museum and the traffic lights next to Al Fresco Restaurant in B'bugia. Too many accidents have happenned along this stretch of road and too many people have lost their lives. Since certain drivers still insist on zooming up and down this stretch of road, this would act as a deterrent.

r micallef

Oct 10th 2009, 10:40

bahnanata.....

....how much does the government collect in road taxes / fines every year? how are these bieng used and allocated?

and what about triq Josef Kalleya in Swieqi ?