German experts assessing Regional Road bridge damage

A German team of experts is in Malta to assess the damage on Manwel Dimech bridge, along Regional Road, and confirm whether it can still be used until repairs are carried out.

The experts, who will be on the island until Wednesday, are also expected to validate the traffic measures - speed limit and tonnage - adopted by the government, a Roads Ministry spokesman said.

A French engineering society that inspected the road earlier this year, had reported dangerous oscillations along Manwel Dimech bridge, installed in 1971 with a lifespan of 35 years.

The government had immediately slapped on a speed limit of 45 kilometres and limited the vehicle weight to between 35 - 40 tonnes in an attempt to reduce the oscillations.

Now a solution seems to be forthcoming after the Cabinet approved the bridge as one of the three projects that will be co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund.

The money from the ERDF is allocated by the EU to works that include investment in the environment and transport infrastructure, education and social infrastructure, tourism and culture.

The project for the Manwel Dimech bridge is expected to cost in the range of €5 million and will include the assessment, design and execution of repairs, which will be carried out in phases.

The first call for tenders to engage engineers will be issued towards the end of this month.

Following the adjudication of the tender, the experts will assess the current state of repair as well as define and draw up the plans for work that would be deemed necessary. This stage is expected to take about 10 weeks.

A second call for tenders for the actual execution of the works needed will then be issued.

Since the works have to be carried out on two separate structures, the work will be phased to minimise the impact on traffic flowing through this main thoroughfare.

Commenting on the Cabinet's approval, Roads Minister Jesmond Mugliett said the government was tackling the upgrading of Malta's primary road network "by implementing a proper long-term strategy, making full use of all the funding opportunities available".

The other two projects approved by the Cabinet include the upgrading of the five-kilometre stretch between Victoria and San Lawrenz Square in Gozo and the reconstruction and upgrading of the three-kilometre-long road from Hal Far to Malta Freeport.

Each project is expected to cost about €4 million.

The planning and design of these two projects has entered the final phase and calls for tenders for the construction will be issued towards the end of September. Works are then expected to start before the end of summer 2005.

All three projects had been submitted and approved by the Planning and Priorities Coordination Directorate within the Office of the Prime Minister.

A fourth project, involving the reconstruction and upgrading of Marfa Road in Mellieha, was approved by the Cabinet as a reserve project.

"Work on these projects is expected to start next year, before the current roadworks funded under the Fifth Italo-Maltese Financial Protocol are scheduled to be completed," Mr Mugliett explained.

"The European Regional Development Fund projects will be an important stage in the process that will bring our primary road infrastructure up to the standard you would expect in modern European country," he added.