New unit to enforce quality

You are not alone if you have ever wondered why a road is sometimes resurfaced only to be dug up again a few weeks later, or why roadworks are often carried out at peak times, much to the frustration of motorists.

The government is promising that all this will become a thing of the past with the setting up of a new unit with a mission to "entrench quality at all levels and with all stakeholders".

Although there have been previous efforts to address the issue, they have not reaped the required results, Transport Minister Austin Gatt said yesterday as he launched the new unit. But, he added, the country could no longer accept that roads are constructed, reconstructed, resurfaced and maintained below acceptable standards, in an uncoordinated manner and with little regard to the inconvenience or dangers caused by the works.

He said trenching work and the reinstatement of roads left a lot to be desired, especially because there was little consideration for health and safety. He said the aim was to change the mentality that "everything will do".

The unit, set up within the Road Network Infrastructure Directorate, aims to raise the quality of resurfacing work to bring it up to international standards. The unit will also try to improve planning and coordination between entities which need to carry out work on roads and lessen the inconvenience caused to residents and businesses. It will also seek to ensure that health and safety considerations are fully taken into account. The unit will coordinate the Malta Transport Authority, Enemalta, the Water Services Corporation, local councils, the Works Division, the Gozo Ministry, Go plc, Melita Cable, Vodafone plc and any other service company needing to carry out some form of road work. Enemalta and the WSC have been instructed to delegate such work to the ADT.

Dr Gatt said the unit is meant to get all stakeholders to follow procedures and standards that already exist in all EU countries. It will have the power to intervene, control or fine anyone who does not abide by the new rules.

"Ideally we instil a mentality of self-regulation. If not, then there are the fines and possible black-listing of contractors," he said. The inspectors will be independent of the contractors carrying out the work.

He admitted that these results could not be brought about overnight since they involved a culture change.

Dr Gatt said the unit, in a "dry run", has already been involved in the reconstruction of Tower Road in Sliema which was done in record time, according to the set deadlines and with minimal inconvenience on residents and businesses.

The unit's next task will be to oversee the reconstruction of the Marsascala bypass, with work at times being done on a 24-hour basis. Yesterday morning there was chaos at the top part of Tower Road because workmen were laying a new pavement. A warden was supposed to be directing traffic but was instead seen chatting with workmen, much to the bemusement of motorists. Asked whether works are going to start being done at night to minimise the impact on traffic, Dr Gatt said this was not always possible because of inconvenience to residents.

He said certain roadworks, such as street marking, were already being done at night when traffic eases. Replying to another question on the emergency repair works undertaken by the ADT in recent weeks, Dr Gatt said the work was done well and quickly, but more needed to be done.

Over the last five years, the government has spent an average of €36 million a year on roads.