The Marsa-Hamrun bypass road is to be widened near the Santa Venera tunnels in a €5 million project to ease traffic congestion, the Transport Ministry said.
A call for tenders will be made in the coming days.
The ministry said that while it prepares to set up an agency which will be responsible for the improvement and continuous maintenance of roads in Malta and Gozo, it is also ensuring that a number of works to ease traffic problems are completed by the end of this year.
Works are currently in hand at Birkirkara Road in Attard, near San Anton Palace, and Santa Katerina Road in the same locality, parts of Enrico Mizzi Road and Msida Road in Gżira, parts of Sejba Road in Mqabba, and parts of Independence Avenue in Mosta.
Resurfacing work on Għexierem Road and Wesgħa tal-Mużew in front of the Roman Villa in Rabat started a few weeks ago and are expected to be concluded shortly.
Transport Malta is currently rebuilding Namura Road in Baħrija.
A call for tenders has been issued for the rebuilding of Bormla Road, better known as Ċawsli Road, in Żabbar. Work on this road is expected to begin shortly.
Works towards improving access for vehicles in the area of Mosta Road in Lija (near Lija cemetery) have reached their final stages. In this case, the road is being widened with the use of new lanes in order to minimise congestion.
A similar project is being carried out in Gudja, in order to add new lanes around the roundabout which takes drivers to the airport, to Gudja Bypass and the Kirkop tunnel.
Improvement works on the connection between Marsa Road and Ingiered Road, in the area of the Marsa Race Course and St Vincent de Paule Residence have been taken in hand.
Transport Minister Ian Borg explained that Transport Malta is seeking to complete most of these works before the start of the new scholastic year when the number of cars on the road increases.
“We are insisting on not wasting any time where improvements can be made immediately. I have asked Transport Malta to make sure that works which can be done this summer, start as soon as possible. We have also insisted on giving full attention to minimising the impact on road works on residents, drivers and other persons who use or live in the vicinity of these roads”.
Measures would also continue to be taken to encourage more people to use public transport and environment-friendly vehicles, such as the extension of the grant scheme on the purchase of electric vehicles, announced a few days ago, the minister said.