Lm12.5m road work tenders awarded

Tenders for the reconstruction of several arterial roads, funded by the Fifth Italo-Maltese Financial Protocol, have just been awarded, government sources told The Times.

The tenders for the work, estimated at Lm12.5 million, have been awarded to three Italian contractors.

Two of the contractors will be enrolling Maltese subcontractors to help them and the third is likely to employ Maltese workers directly on the project.

The work covers the stretches of road from Burmarrad to Tal-Qlejja (limits of Mosta); from Tal-Qlejja to Tas-Srina roundabout (below Mdina); from Tas-Srina roundabout to Qormi; from the bottom of Saqqajja Hill to Attard and from Qormi to Luqa.

The sources said the work is expected to start in the coming weeks and the Malta Transport Authority will soon be embarking on a campaign to inform motorists that the roads in question will be closed to traffic to expedite the execution of the work.

Alternative traffic arrangements and traffic deviations are in hand and will be publicised in due course.

The funds provided by the Italian protocol have to be utilised by September 2005 so work has to start and be completed in time to ensure the money is not lost.

Work will also include the shifting of services running under the roads. Resurfacing of alternative roads has already started.