Triq il-Gandoffli in Marsascala has been left in shambles and closed off for more than four weeks, after it was abandoned by the contractor assigned to carry out works, according to residents.
Resident Oliver Scicluna said in a statement that works on the seaside road started about seven weeks ago.
But after the road was dug up, the contractor left, keeping the road closed and in a wreck.
"This is also how long residents have been unable to use their garages some of which have their cars and boats locked inside. Residents don't even know when works will resume or be completed."
Mr Scicluna said that residents were told by Transport Malta that the contractor has not honoured his obligations and TM was imposing fines for the delays experienced.
"Does this mean that residents will be compensated for their inconvenience or will the government simply cash in the money," he asked.
He pointed out that it has become common practice for road contractors not to honour their contractual obligations, as could also be seen from other sites, such as the Cospicua seafront.
"Are contractors so powerful that even the government (their client) has become weak against them? Could it be that the government is not honoring any of its obligations and contractors are fighting back at the detriment of the general public?"
Mr Scicluna said that residents of Triq il-Gandoffli have been suffering far too long without a proper road. After begging for many years they were made to believe that works had started but the road was now in a far worse situation than ever as it was totally inaccessible.
TRANSPORT MALTA FINES CONTRACTOR
In a statement, Transport Malta said it has been monitoring developments on this road building project for a number of weeks and has been constantly in touch with the residents about the issue.
It also conducted some emergency interventions using other contractors.
TM said the contractor, who has been carrying out construction works on Triq il-Gandofli for over seven weeks, was expected to complete the job within four weeks.
Following various instructions issued to the contractor to complete road construction works within the stipulated time frame, TM advised the contractor that it would not be extending the road works permit beyond April 4.
TM also informed the contractor that notwithstanding an April 4 completion, the contractor was still going to be liable for any penalties due under the contract of works as well as under a legal covering road works.
The contractor has, in fact, already had €1,000 deducted from his bank guarantee for initially carrying out works without a permit. He will also be expected to reimburse TM for the emergency interventions which the authority had to make using on-call contractors.
It clarified that Schembri Barbros, shown in photos submitted by residents, was not the defaulting contractor but the one carrying out the emergency works.
TM said it regretted the inconvenience caused to the residents. As had already been explained to them, TM was primarily focused on bringing an end to this unfortunate situation within the parameters allowed by the procurement regulations and without compounding the plight of the residents.