Italian senator views 'high quality' roadworks

The Italian Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Senator Roberto Antonione, yesterday toured the road works being funded under the Fifth Italian-Maltese Financial Protocol.

The road upgrade programme, costing e30 million, covers a 16-kilometre corridor of arterial and distributor roads in the centre of the island. It is due to be completed in September. The project involves the complete reconstruction of a number of roads, realignment and shifting of utility infrastructures.

Minister for Urban Development and Roads Jesmond Mugliett, who accompanied Senator Antonione, thanked the Italian government for its assistance on the project and said it would not just leave behind 16 km of roads that offer an excellent driving experience but also a legacy of knowledge in road construction brought about by the close collaboration between Maltese and Italian road contractors.

Senator Antonione said he was proud to see what has been achieved with the funds provided by the Italian protocol. He recalled that in 2001 he had been to Malta to discuss the Fifth Protocol and had urged Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to proceed with it, even though Malta was then on the verge of joining the European Union.

He expressed satisfaction at the high quality of the work carried out by Italian firms, and to know that this had been done with Italy's financial contribution. He said relations between Malta and Italy were not just formal but based on true friendship. He hoped to visit Malta again once the entire project was completed.

Two stretches of Mdina Road - 1.4 km in Qormi and a 2.2 kilometre-long stretch between Zebbug and Rabat - have already been opened to traffic. Other stretches in Qormi and Zebbug will be opened to traffic over the coming month.

The work on "Lot 1" of the project included the complete reconstruction of around 5.5 kilometres of arterial and distributor roads and three major traffic junctions near the Mtarfa Military Cemetery, at Tal-Qlejja and at Targa Gap, in the limits of Mosta.

Sen. Antonione and Mr Mugliett toured the works at Triq Buqana and the Tal-Qlejja roundabout junction.

The contractor at the site is putting the finishing touches to Triq Buqana. This 1.5 kilometre-road will be opened to traffic once the works on the roundabout junctions at both its ends are completed at the end of June.

The Tal-Qlejja roundabout is a hub for three common service ducts that will carry five high-tension cables. Seven water mains with a diameter ranging between 100 mm to 450 mm also meet under this roundabout.

No less than 13.5 kilometres of water mains and nine kilometres of electricity mains will be laid along the roads that make up Lot 1, once the work is completed.

The task involves the installation of two kilometres of pre-cast common service ducts and 3.6 kilometres of six-way duct routes as well as the construction of 5.5 kilometres of storm water systems.

Meanwhile, work is progressing steadily on the 1.6-kilometre stretch of road linking Tal-Qlejja with Targa Gap. Apart from the reconstruction and realignment of the road, work here involved the laying of pre-cast common service ducts all along under the pavements. This road will be opened to traffic in mid-July.

Of particular interest here was the unearthing of a number of underground chambers forming part of the Ta' Bistra Catacombs complex near Targa Gap. A second finding - this time involving part of the Victoria Lines - occured a fortnight ago during excavation works along the road leading from Tal-Qlejja to Zebbiegh.

Further investigations at both sites were carried out under the supervision of an environmental and archaeological monitor.

Measures are being taken to ensure that this archaeological heritage is preserved.

Despite the discovery of the Victoria Lines, the reconstruction of the 2.6 kilometre-road leading from Tal-Qlejja to Zebbiegh is now two-thirds along its term.

Having started in January this year, the works on this road are set to be completed in September as scheduled.