The government has, and quite rightly, embarked on the reconstruction of roads. They are supposedly made expertly and to last for quite a number of years. But is this so? In my opinion new roads are lacking maintenance besides being damaged by heavily laden trucks.

Take for example the road leading to Mġarr. When this was completed, the minister responsible for roads at that time stated that this road will have a lifespan of 20 years. But one notices that in some parts it is already caving in and no maintenance is carried out.

The culprits who are damaging this road are the monstrous trucks with their tractors which are one storey high and carrying an enormous load. Now the Motor Vehicles Regulations state that a truck can carry a load of 10 tons on each axle with a maximum of 30 tons.

I once enquired with a driver who was driving one of these trucks what load was he carrying. To my amazement he stated that he was carrying 50 tons.

This is being done regularly under the nose of Transport Malta. When on rare occasions checks by TM personnel are carried out what happens is that drivers pass on a message to other drivers of trucks that are already at the landfill situated along this road. These either lower their load or remain there until the TM personnel leave.

If one proceeds towards Mġarr just after this landfill, one can notice that this part of the road is still in perfect condition, hence the difference to the other part from this landfill towards Mosta, which is frequented by these trucks.