Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital projects Ian Borg announced that in the coming weeks a tender for the rebuilding of around 120 residential roads will be issued by Infrastructure Malta. These roads form part of the unprecedented investment of €700 million, which is a historic promise made by this Government and being implemented by the Ministry.
"This is the first batch of the residential roads that we will be rebuilding – for decades, these roads were never adequately built and completed with an asphalt surface. It is not acceptable that we still have families living in areas which do not have an adequate road infrastructure, especially in a country like ours, which boasts of extraordinary economic progress. The Government will maintain its commitment to the upgrading of residential roads in Malta and Gozo. In the next few weeks, Infrastructure Malta will be issuing a call for tenders with the tendering process being completed this year, so that all these roads can be upgraded in 2019," said Borg.
This announcement was made during the visit by Minister Borg of the new rebuilt road, Vjal ix-Xarolla in Żurrieq. Infrastructure Malta completed a €1.8 million project to rebuild this street, transforming a previously narrow street into a new two-way road connecting this locality to Safi and Kirkop, whilst building a roundabout, and a segregated service road for safer access to the area's residents. This investment will ensure that long-standing difficulties faced by road users and by the residents of the street are eliminated.
Minister Borg explained that as is being done with all the projects being implemented on our road network, certain important elements were included within the infrastructure to continue adding value to the investment made. Infact, the arterial road and the adjacent service road include a 0.5-kilometre cycle lane, over one kilometre of new pavements, five pedestrian crossings and several new parking spaces for residents. Beneath the road surface, the project contractors also installed 4.2 kilometres of new water, waste water, electricity and telecommunications distribution networks supplying and servicing the area's houses. New rubble walls were built along the side of the new road as well. The project also includes a one-kilometre storm water pipeline to channel rain water from the new roads into two new underground reservoirs and another existing one, with a total capacity of 1.86 million litres.
Moreover, Minister Borg said that sensitive issues were addressed during this project, whereby due attention was given to the project site due to the area's archaeological significance. Infact, excavations required for the new road foundations and the underground service networks had to be carefully carried out under the continuous supervision of archaeologists. In some areas, workers had to dig trenches with shovels, rather than mechanical excavators, to ensure that any historic remains uncovered are adequately retrieved and protected. Six ancient tombs and other historical features including cart ruts were discovered during the project and such findings were studied by the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage, which specified measures which were then adopted for their conservation.
Minister Borg announced also that in the coming weeks, this investment will be followed by the commencement of another project to rebuild Triq il-Kuċċard, which links Vjal ix-Xarolla to Safi and Kirkop. This road will also be rebuilt to include a two-way road and an adjacent service road for residents.
"Our work will continue with this steady pace – there is a lot to do and I will keep on working to ensure that the results are achieved for the benefit of our communities," concluded Minister Borg.
from The Malta Independent https://ift.tt/2xYfI5W
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