Garibaldi Street and Council of Europe Street in Luqa and Triq l-Ghassara tal-Gheneb in Marsa, will reopen to traffic in April  when works on their rebuilding are completed.

Transport Minister Austin Gatt said during a tour of Garibaldi Street this afternoon that the works on the three projects  was on time and on budget.

Architect John Demicoli said that half of Garibaldi Street and Council of Europe Street have already been resurfaced and workers are in the process of resurfacing the second half and completing utility services. The works started at the end of March.

Triq l-Ghassara tal-Gheneb - which leads from Marsa centre to Valletta Waterfront, is 80% ready despite delays caused by investigation of minor historical remains which have been preserved. It too will reopen in April.

He said that work on Marfa Road, from Cirkewwa to Mellieha, is scheduled for completion in the third quarter of this year.

In Gozo, the Mgarr Road project will also be completed in the third quarter of this year.  Works here were also delayed by the discovery of ancient wells and reservoirs, which have been restored and preserved.

Mr Demicoli said workers are also engaged on a rebuilding of parts of Mellieha bypass, where the gradient will be reduced in some places.

A project to improve the link between December 13 Road and Triq l-Ghassara tal-Gheneb, which started in November, will be completed by the end of this year.

All the works fall under the Ten-T project of the European Union. 85% of their cost of €35m is being met by the EU.

Dr Gatt said these were necessary and important investments. He said the upgrading of the roads took an important step forward with EU accession. He regretted traffic problems which the works were causing but said it had been impossible to keep some lanes open.