(Published March 28, 2010)

Roadworks and embellishment works are taking place in several parts of Malta reinforcing the public perception that it takes a miracle, or a papal visit, to even out the island's roads.

As the country gears up for Pope Benedict XVI's 26-hour visit between April 17 and 18, many long-suffering motorists are looking forward to driving on the bump-free roads resurfaced to guarantee a smooth ride for the pontiff.

According to a government spokesman, these works were scheduled to take place anyway throughout the year, but some had been moved forward.

"I don't deny that some works are being held earlier. But they were programmed to be carried out," explained Charles Bonello, who is coordinating operations on behalf of the State.

He explained that the Pope's visit was an important international event and Malta wanted to ensure it looked its best.

Last month, organisers said the Pope would be passing through 33 localities and 40 parishes. Online readers immediately focused their attention on roadworks as they looked forward to new tarmac and invited the Popemobile to pass through their street.

Meanwhile, several road embellishment works were carried out across the island yesterday with the pruning of trees, planting of flowers and the removal of weeds.

A Rural Affairs Ministry spokesman explained that such works were carried out regularly, as motorists themselves would have witnessed. Transport Malta and the Environmental Landscapes Consortium worked together all year round to coordinate road embellishment works, he said.

Mr Bonello pointed out that, in fact, such works were yesterday carried out on the Regional Road where the Pope was not even going to pass.

But asphalting works are also taking place in Valletta Road, Attard as well as Tal-Virtú Road, Rabat, which leads to the Apostolic Nunciature where the Pope will sleep during his one-day visit.

Many believe the last time Malta experienced such a flurry of activity on its roads was in the weeks preceding the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting held in Malta in November 2005. Questions sent to Transport Malta on Friday remained unanswered by the time of going to print.