Valley Road reconstruction work starts with removal of trees

Reconstruction work on Valley Road, Balzan, started yesterday with the removal of trees along the stretch of road, which has been described by Infrastructure Minister Ian Borg as one of the worst in Malta.

The works will continue throughout the next few months until the end of the summer.

Along with the rebuilding of the road, there will also be 1.2 kilometres of pavement reconstructed, according to the minister.

Two trees will be uprooted in order for the works to proceed. Workmen turned up yesterday morning to remove the trees.

Over the past weeks, there has been growing concern about the indiscriminate way trees on Maltese roads are being chopped down to make way for the reconstruction of roads.

Balzan Mayor Ian Spiteri uploaded the project plans on his Facebook page earlier this week. He said the trees would be relocated and an expert had been appointed to monitor the entire process.

In the meantime, a protest against the destruction of trees is being held in Valletta on Sunday, 30 June. The protest is being organised by a number of groups.

Attendees are urged to wear green clothing and to take along plants. “At the moment, the Malta we know is changing. Our green environment is being demolished and replaced with concrete, and mature trees chopped and justified with ‘new saplings planted’ in some cases,” the event description says, adding that this process is destroying our history and “filling our souls with concrete.”