The government has a long-term vision for the upgrading of the Maltese roads network. While work on the arterial roads will enter its second phase next year, there would also be an increased emphasis on 'residential roads' Roads Minister Jesmond Mugliett said in Parliament during the budget debate.
He said this government's record with regard to the development of the infrastructure was second to none.
Next year would be significant in that several projects would be completed or would reach important milestones.
The opposition had mentioned some projects which had not been started. It was true that the Schreiber project at Paola had not started yet, but planning was continuing and this had not been shelved.
There was no obligation for the Gzira link road to be built next year. It could be built in 2007 once planning issues were resolved.
The Park and Ride project was nearing completion and contracts would be awarded next year for the redevelopment of the Dock 1 area in Cospicua.
The way infrastructural development was coming together reflected the careful planning the government had made along the years. For example, with the onset of EU membership and the renewal of the Italian financial protocol, the government had planned the rebuilding of the major roads. The results were now evident and this process would continue. Clearly such major road works, all being carried out in a short span of time, would not have been possible had Malta not joined the EU.
The Manoel Island/Tigné project, was large even by international standards and Malta was already seeing returns through the economic activity it generated. Milestones would be reached next year as residents started to move into some of the blocks and a community centre started to take shape. A new traffic system at Tigné would be introduced as part of this project.
It was also hoped that the issue of the relocation of the Royal Malta Yacht Club would be resolved soon.
On the Cottonera project, Mr Mugliett said good progress was being registered, economic and cultural activity was picking up and more tourists and Maltese were going there.
The casino and the marina were operating, the mansions had been developed, the treasury building had been restored and a new quay had been built alongside Fort St Angelo.
At the same time, Cottonera also had a new sports complex, a home for the elderly and the Access offices. The old dockyard wall had been removed and many buildings in the residential core were being rehabilitated. A brief had been drawn for the redevelopment of the Dock 1 area. It sought to balance business and residential needs and the characteristics of the area. There had been prospective developers who said they did not tender because they did not agree with the brief. These were the people who had come up with a proposal for a replica of Portomaso on this site. However by next summer, the contract would be signed with the development starting in 2007.
Landscaping in the Vittoriosa quay area would also be taken in hand next summer.
At Grand Harbour, the new terminal for cruise liner operations being built by Viset was nearing completion. This would make it easier for Malta to promote itself as a home port for cruise liners. No agreement on the Viset proposal for the introduction of a cable car had been reached in spite of many discussions.
Unfortunately no one had submitted a tender to rebuild the Barrakka lift. Perhaps the government's vision for the upper part of Valletta had been unclear and prospective developers felt they could not submit a bid at a time when others were making proposals for other forms of transport into the city. But there was glaring need for something to be done and the government has looked at several possibilities to facilitate access into the city for locals and tourists.
The Park and Ride project could see 950 fewer cars parked in Valletta. As a result of this project, several streets, such as South Street, could be pedestrianised. Of the Lm300,000 invested on landscaping at Blata l-Bajda three years ago, only Lm12,000 worth would be irreversibly removed. The Park and Ride system would lead to less traffic congestion in Floriana and Valletta. Although the car park at Blata l-Bajda would have 960 places, this could easily be extended. This project, Mr Mugliett said, could serve to change the people's perception on the use of transport. Mr Mugliett said a lot of thought had been invested in the City Gate project. This was a very delicate project, and nothing had been done about it for 60 years. The government had tried to consider the various proposals and this took time. Several positive proposals were made recently which could perhaps lead to a final decision. One should aim for a project which met with the approval of all the people.
Turning to roads, Mr Mugliett said the country was going through its biggest road building programme ever, with the first phase having been the roads built through the Italian financial protocol.
The only stretch of road under that protocol which was not done was that from Attard to Saqqaja. Only resurfacing was involved here and the work had to be given up because the budget could not be stretched further. However, the project included new, unplanned additions near Zebbug, including the service road there. The road leading to the Mtarfa roundabout was another addition.
While not all deadlines were reached for the various roads, the overall time target was achieved. This project, after all included nine junctions, 20 pedestrian crossings, five kilometres of cycle lanes, 21 kilometres of storm water culverts and 19 metres of rubble walls apart from 17 kilometres of road.
Mr Mugliett said flooding problems on the Siggiewi road mentioned by Labour MP Charles Buhagiar were being caused by wrong use of the sewerage system. Another drain had now been laid in parallel with the existing one and the problem should be resolved.
Roads to be financed by the EU under the second phase of the project would include the last part of the road to Hal Far, the rebuilding of the Manoel Dimech Bridge at the Regional Road and the Victoria to San Lawrenz road. Tenders would be issued for the rebuilding of the St Paul's Bay by-pass and the Mgarr to Ghajnsielem Road. Another road from Mgarr harbour was being planned.
Mr Mugliett pointed out that the work carried out under the Italian protocol had touched 10 per cent of Malta's road network, while the EU funded ones would cover another 6.5 per cent.
Works next year would also feature residential roads. Some 50 tenders for residential roads in Malta had already been issued. In three years Lm46 million would have been spent on local roads.
Mr Mugliett said this government had a long term vision for roads; it had a vision for improving transport in general and it was incorporating these in its vision for the country. It was exploiting every opportunity in a sustainable manner, working in an integrated way in all sectors and ensuring value for money.
Earlier in the debate, Nationalist MP Franco Galea welcomed the fact that the bus fleet was being modernised, but said much remained to be done to improve the bus service. Still, the late service to Valletta, the bulk tickets, and the new code of conduct were steps in the right direction.
One could not continue building new roads in a limited space and there was potential therefore for further growth in public transport in view of congestion caused by the increasing number of new cars.
The buses, however, had to operate reliably and win back the people's confidence, and hence, patronage.
Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando (PN) said the way the roads were being rebuilt marked a significant quality leap forward both in terms of construction, signage, lighting, safety and traffic management.
Labour MP Charles Buhagiar (who was reported yesterday) had complained that part of the Zebbug road only had a single lane either way, but he did not say that new service roads had been built alongside to benefit the residents. Dangerous curves had also been removed.
He augured that the road to Marsascala would now also be seen to. Dr Pullicino Orlando said he was amazed that Labour MP Stefan Buontempo (also reported yesterday) had complained that capital projects in Cottonera had raised the cost of properties in this area. Was he suggesting that projects in this area should not have been undertaken?
Dr Pullicino Orlando said the road at T'Alla w Ommu Hill had also been rebuilt, but it was now covered by spillage from concrete mixer trucks. Better law enforcement was needed to stop this.