A total of 274 roads will be rebuilt or resurfaced for just under €20 million, according to Transport Minister Austin Gatt.
The roads should be ready in 15 months, but Dr Gatt has warned there might be delays, as the works would be stretching contractors “to the limit”.
Some 202 residential roads will be resurfaced at a cost of €7.9 million, while 72 roads will be rebuilt for €6.5 million.
Most of these roads are under the direct responsibility of their local councils, but the Transport Ministry has decided to intervene because the councils “either don’t have the money or don’t want to do the roads”, Dr Gatt said.
The ministry will also carry out infrastructural works on five major projects: a dual carriageway leading to Smart City in Xgħajra; the construction of a junction close to the new US embassy in Ta’ Qali; San Anard Road, which leads to the new Ta’ Barkat sewage treatment plant in Xgħajra; the upgrading of Qui-Si-Sana in Sliema, stretching from Tower Road to Dragut Point; and the further pedestrianisation of several streets in Valletta. These projects will together cost €5.4 million.
This list of projects is different to a €34 million upgrade forming part of the so-called European Ten-T network, which was announced recently and involves rebuilding several major roads.
The works launched yesterday would be fully funded by the government and would “stretch” road contractors to the limit – to the extent that there had been difficulty finding contractors for some of the works, Dr Gatt said, cautioning that this might result in missed deadlines. Work has already started on some of the projects, including the ones in Sliema and Ta’ Qali, while the others are expected to start between now and July.
Dr Gatt said Transport Malta had been regularly testing the material used as well as the quality of the work being undertaken. After the roads are finished, their maintenance will come under the responsibility of their respective local councils.
The works to be carried out near the new US embassy will include a major overhaul of the present storm water system, which alone will cost nearly €165,000.
The Valletta pedestrianisation project will involve the paving of parts of Archbishop, Sta Lucija Street, Strait and Old Theatre streets and part of Republic Street costing €2 million.
In addition to the proposed dual carriageway to SmartCity, the government will upgrade the roads used for traffic diversions while this major road is being built. These are St Liberata, Italian Mission and Marina Streets in Kalkara, St Edward Street in Vittoriosa and Labour Avenue and Hompesch Road in Żabbar.