€64 million for arterial road upgrades in 2019
Infrastructure Malta has invested €64 million in over 14 projects to improve the safety, efficiency and sustainability of Malta’s arterial road network in 2019, Infrastructure Minister Ian Borg has said.
Infrastructure Malta is implementing this major upgrade of the arterial road network in parallel with its seven-year project to rebuild residential roads and other projects to improve rural roads, to develop new open spaces and to upgrade the country’s maritime infrastructure, representatives explained.
Addressing the media, Infrastructure Minister Ian Borg called this year, “a historic year for our country’s road infrastructure – a year which witnessed the beginning of the project with the unprecedented investment of €700 million on our residential roads, which this year will have seen more than €123 million with 290 committed roads and more than 85 of these complete in the first eight months. This is the same year that witnessed the opening of the first two Marsa Junction flyover structures. Above all, this is the year in which we made substantial investments in our arterial roads – an investment of €64 million in these roads which form such an important part of our network, an investment in a total of 14 projects towards more safety and more efficiency.”
Minister Borg said that these projects are translating into less waiting time in traffic, which means more peaceful journeys and more time to invest in family or work. Among other important benefits, he mentioned the reduction in emissions towards improved air quality, infrastructure for alternative means towards multimodality and improved safety, both for vehicles as well as for those using smaller means or walking.
Minister Ian Borg referred to the Regional Road project where while substantial improvements were made towards better efficiency in the principal NorthSouth route on the Ten-T Corridor, and “the principal goal here was safety.” He said that this work will continue as by the end of the year improvements will have begun on three tunnels along the same route as well as the Kirkop tunnel towards improved security systems and adequate lighting. Here the minister also referred to the new roundabout built in Labour Avenue in Naxxar towards improved safety as well and said that a similar initiative will be implemented between the Coast Road, St Andrews Road and roads leading to Pembroke, High Ridge and Madliena by the end of the year.
“These projects are not only paying their investment back into our economy, but our giving us a lot back in terms of precious time, as we are continuously getting more efficient roads,” said the Minister. Here he referred to the work started in the last weeks in Triq Qormi in Qormi near the Maltapost offices, and the completed projects at Tal-Balal Road where road capacity was increased and Luqa Road in Santa Luċija, where a little further away work is now underway on the ambitious Santa Luċija underpass project which will continue adding to the efficiency of the Marsa Junction.
“Yes, we want a better environment, adequate air quality,” said the minister. He said that this is one of the effects of these projects, which is also being strengthened by Infrastructure Malta’s €1 million investment so that by the end of this year we will have 6,700 trees planted in both open spaces and along arterial routes.
Minister Borg also spoke about the work being done to facilitate the use of alternative means of transport, both through incentivising schemes as well as through secure facilities on the road network. He said that when we speak about alternative means this means also public transport, cycling and walking and said that therefore investments are being made in pedestrian and cycling bridges, where this year work will be seen on the pedestrian bridge in Luqa and the one in Blata l-Bajda.
He also referred to the road known as Taċ-Ċawsli which saw the opening of the first segregated walking and cycling track, and said that a similar track is being built in Qormi Road and St Thomas Road in Luqa to join the cycle lane implemented last year in Aviation Avenue, and added that a little further away pedestrian and cycling facilities have just been introduced in Luqa Road in Santa Luċija which will join other facilities in the Marsa Junction Project.
Regarding Buqana Road, a 1.5kilometre cycle lane will be opened as well, said the minister, while reminding those present of the pedestrian facilities thanks to the pavement introduced for the first time in Tal-Balal Road.
“We believe that work should be done holistically because we believe that the people’s quality of life depends on balanced solutions, and when and where possible we integrate everything we can. Our vision for infrastructure and transport is truly wide and that is why we are implementing a blend of solutions. We are committed and have the energy to continue implementing them and delivering them to the people, to continue giving the people tangible benefits. Investing in our roads means investing in our people’s serenity,” concluded Minister Ian Borg.