Transport Malta has so far refrained from acting on its legal threat to terminate the contract with the operators of the Mrieħel footbridge, as it could prolong the delay in installing lifts, the Times of Malta is informed.

Following several warnings to Steel Structures Company Ltd, lawyer Katherina Borg Cardona, on behalf of Transport Malta, filed a judicial protest last December, demanding that the operators install them within seven days or face the consequences.

Warning that Steel Structures was in breach of the contract signed for the building and operation of the footbridge, Transport Malta warned that if the situation was not addressed, it would proceed with the necessary legal action. But no further action has been taken so far.

Penalties have so far amounted to tens of thousands

When contacted about the matter, a Transport Malta spokesman said: “The authority sought legal opinions and was advised against terminating the contract, because the action would only delay the lifts’ installation. Transport Malta’s aims remain to have a fully functional pedestrian bridge for the communities that reside in the area.”

However, the company is incurring fines for breaching the contract. The spokesman said that the penalties had so far amounted to “tens of thousands”.

According to the contract the company signed with Transport Malta, Steel Structures was given a 20-year concession to build and operate the pedestrian bridge at no cost to Transport Malta.

In return, the company had the right to sell advertising space on the structure.

The plaque unveiled before the June election to mark the construction of the bridge.

According to rates cited by Aiken Services, which sells the advertising space, about €23,000 a month can be earned from the sale of such space, amounting to over €5 million over the span of the concession.

Advertising has been sold for over a year, but the bridge cannot be used as a pedestrian crossing without the elevators. According to the contract, Steel Structures was to have the bridge operational by February 2017.

The delay surrounding the lifts forced Transport Minister Ian Borg to make a public apology in Parliament, but the footbridge has yet to become fully operational.

Before the last election, Qormi mayor and now Labour MP Rosianne Cutajar unveiled a commemorative plaque marking the ‘building’ of the pedestrian bridge.

ivan.camilleri@timesofmalta.com