Arterial roads face a smooth ride

Arterial roads are in for a smooth ride next year as the government plans to invest €41 million, according to Finance Minister Tonio Fenech.

The focus will be on the roads between Ċirkewwa and Torri l-Aħmar, Marsa and Luqa, the access from the Menqa in Marsa to the passenger terminal in Grand Harbour and the road between Xewkija and Victoria.

Roads had started being rebuilt in Kappara, the coast road between Pembroke and Qawra and the road between Mellieħa and Torri l-Aħmar.

A total of €15 million will be spent on roads in residential areas and major roads and 65 new roads will be built by the end of this year. Then, in the first half of next year over 80 new roads will be completed.

“This means that, from the list of roads published here in Parliament, about 100 roads will still need to be built, a number of which are scheduled to be ready by the end of the year.”

Another €5 million will be allocated to local councils for use on roadworks. Mr Fenech said infrastructural works being carried out would proceed. These include the City Gate project in Valletta and the restoration of the bastions, which were seeing an investment of €36 million.

Other works include the embellishment of Dock 1 in Cospicua and the surrounding historical buildings, the restoration of Valletta’s Fort St Elmo and the fish market.

Funds will be allocated for the restoration of the façades of Castille and the Grand Master’s Palace in Valletta, the Collacchio project in Vittoriosa will be launched and works will continue on the National Park at Xrobb l-Għaġin.

The government will be investing in a water park in Buġibba. A similar plan was mentioned in February 2009, when the Malta Tourism Authority issued a call for a €7.5 million marine aquarium in Qawra. This project goes back a long way and was first mentioned by the MTA in 2000.