Transport authority studies future of Regional Road bridge

The Regional Road bridge, built in 1971 with a life-span of 35 years, is likely to be replaced later this year although it is possible it will be maintained to give it another 10 years or so of life.

Addressing a news conference yesterday, Malta Transport Authority (ADT) chairman Charles Demicoli said the bridge formed part of the 52km stretch from Cirkewwa to the Freeport which will form Malta's European road.

A French engineering society was appointed to inspect the roads in this stretch, using European funds.

It reported dangerous oscillations on the Regional Road bridge and the ADT immediately asked its in-house architects, who include German experts from the company GTZ, to inspect the bridge and at the same time it limited the maximum speed to 30 kilometres per hour.

Although this had caused drivers certain problems, he said the authority did not want to take any risks.

Mr Demicoli said that as it had now been assured that there was no immediate danger, the limit was being raised to 45 kilometres per hour but the vehicle weight was being limited to 35 - 40 tonnes in a bid to limit the oscillations.

He said that cameras had been installed but they did not calculate speed. However, speed cameras would be installed today.

In the meantime, a call for applications had already been issued and closed for expressions of interest for further inspections on the bridge to see whether it was best to replace it or carry out maintenance on it.

The seven applications received were currently being evaluated and a tender is expected to be issued in the coming days.

Mr Demicoli said that all over Europe, bridges such as that of the Regional Road were replaced after 35 years. Those built today last 100 years.

Although it was also possible to give the bridge 10 more years of life, it would probably be cheaper to replace it.

The tests to determine what best to do would be carried out in the next three months, after which another tender for the necessary work to be carried out would be issued.