Transport Malta has refused to give details of the roadworks linked to next month’s Commonwealth summit because it said this could compromise security plans.

With the transport watchdog facing a race against time before the event, to be held over the last weekend of November, a spokesman refused to give the locations where roads would be resurfaced.

“This could compromise the security plan for this event,” he said, adding that works had already started.

This could compromise the security plan for this event

He offered an assurance the works would be completed on time.

In recent weeks, resurfacing works have been carried out at night in Għajn Tuffieħa Road next to the Roman Baths and in Għajn Dwieli Road, Paola, just outside the tunnel entrance to Cospicua.

In the latter case, residents complained about the disturbance created by the heavy machinery, especially between 11pm and 4am.

‘CHOGM roadworks will be finished’

But the road resurfacing plan only came to light last week, when the government presented Budget 2016. The financial estimates for the Transport Ministry allocated €2.8 million for “road works related to CHOGM”.

With the summit so close, the government would be hard pressed to resurface any major arterial roads leading to the main venues hosting this event.

While the high-level meetings will be held at the historic Fort Saint Angelo in Vittoriosa, fringe meetings will be hosted at a number of St Julian’s hotels and one will take place in Qawra.

The Corinthia at St George’s Bay will be hosting the People’s Forum targeting civil society representatives from Commonwealth countries. Two nearby hotels, the Intercontinental and the Hilton, will be the venue for the Women’s Forum and the Business Forum, respectively.

As for the Youth Forum, meetings will be held at the San Antonio Hotel & Spa in Qawra.

As in 2005, when Malta also hosted the Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit (CHOGM), the heads of state and other foreign dignitaries will be staying at the Radisson SAS Golden Sands in Għajn Tuffieħa.

TRANSPORT MALTA REACTION

In a reaction today, Transport Malta said it notifies all media and the public about all road works it carries out on arterial and distributor roads and suggests alternative routes.

To reduce inconvenience to motorists and avoid traffic congestion, where possible, such works are carried out during the night.

It said it is not the entity which should brief on the CHOGM routes. "Transport Malta has been briefed so that it can proceed with the appropriate works but that does not give TM the liberty to share such information,"it said.