Valletta Road, the main road which leads to Zurrieq, was officially reopened this evening after a €4.4 million rebuilding. €3.6 million were paid for from EU funds.

Roads Minister Austin Gatt welcomed the fact that the works were completed six weeks ahead of schedule and on budget. He said the road was safer in that it was better lit and the surface was of better quality.

Dr Gatt said that since Malta joined the EU, €40m had been invested on arterial roads such as this as well as distributor roads. With the completion of the road to Marsascala and Valletta Road, the focus would now swing to Garibalidi and Council of Europe roads in Luqa, Marfa Road, Mellieha, another section of the road between Ghajnsielem and Victoria and the first phase of the road from Marsa to the sea passenger terminal.

Preparations were also being made for works on the Mellieha bypass at Ta 'Penellu and an underpass from December 13 Road to Marsa Creek.

Studies were also being made on improving the Kappara junction and the coast road.

Dr Gatt said that in the case of roads in residential areas, some 260 roads from a list of roads which were to have been started by the end of 2008 still had to be completed. A further 140 streets would be built by the middle of next year.

€4m were also being spent this year on road patching, the minister said.