Wied Qirda works continued dangerous; widened part of ro

to step in, identify the problem, and fix it – which is what we are doing in this case.

However, the stop and compliance order was not only based on those works asphalting works and road widening in other parts of the valley were mentioned as well; so it was not just based on what you mentioned...

In Wied Qirda there are three areas which were mentioned – the first which I have mentioned already, the second is where the road gave way leading to a truck to topple over, and the third where, yes, part of the road was widened and asphalted beyond what was originally there.

The latter will be removed. At no point did we instruct the contractor to widen the road. However, because that is an area where cars park, and as works were ongoing, the contractor felt that it should be asphalted. That, eventually, will be removed.

Where the truck fell we will be building a wall to strengthen the road and re-asphalt it. But, yes, things which shouldn’t be there will be removed.

Since there is this ERA order in place, didn’t you feel that until the matter works should stop until the matter could be resolved?

I think that a good point. Contrary to the impression generally given about us, we do cooperate with every authority we work with.

If we take this particular case, the ERA asked us for a method statement and we gave it to them in less than 24 hours. We asked for a meeting with the ERA; they asked for more documentation and we provided it. We do collaborate, but in cases where there is danger, one must find the balance between whether to intervene so that nobody gets hurt straight away or wait.

Our decision here was to close off the road and intervene to eliminate the danger. However, we have not used methods which damage the environment – in fact, limestone is being used as the foundation stone. The valley will be cleaned, and the water course will be allowed to pass through as it originally did.

One of the biggest projects in recent times is that of the Marsa Junction. However this, too, has been the subject of controversy after it emerged that the first flyover was missing its expansion joints, which would be installed at the end of the project. Why are they going to be added at the end of the project?

We have the expansion joints. We have had them for months. It was always our plan to include expansion joints in the design, but they need to be placed with the last layer of asphalt.

This is for two reasons: if they are placed before, they could be damaged; and when the last layer of asphalt is laid, there may be a gap between the asphalt and expansion joint.

In this case, the area where the joint sits was filled with a type of expansion foam, and the asphalt was then layered on. Part of that depressed, and so a plank was laid across until the final layer of asphalt and joint are laid.

However, I think the question which was raised by many was whether it was the right decision to open the flyover and allow vehicles to pass over it before the expansion joint was put in place.

What is certain and what has been agreed upon is that there is no danger. What there wasn’t an agreement on was the timing.

Let me be clear, if the flyover was not opened; the project could not continue. The reason is that we had a number of vehicles which had to be diverted onto it so that work on other parts of the project could continue.

So after making sure that there was no danger, we made the decision to use the flyover. Today over 11,000 vehicles pass over it every day, and that is helping us stay ahead of schedule on other parts of the flyover, which confirms that this was the right decision.

In fact that was likely the biggest criticism that a

40,000 ceremony was organised for something that wasn’t yet ready...

I think that an inauguration ceremony has to be seen as a symbolic day. A symbolic day, in this case, for those in the south of the country who have for years been passing through traffic lights and facing major traffic problems to get to their homes or offices.

It was a symbolic day where the government, through Infrastructure Malta, opened the first flyover so that these people could use it. More flyovers will be opened soon and we are determined that, for those in the south who have to pass through this area, not only will we finish them on time, we will finish the project before time so that it can be used by everyone.

The Central Link project is another controversial one, with NGOs now saying that an appeal against the project will be filed in court and even suggesting that they had not been granted a fair hearing by the planning tribunal. If the project does go to court, and the courts decide to rescind planning permission for the project, what will the next step be for Infrastructure Malta?

This project was approved on paper 60 years ago and in the last couple of years, it has caused a bit – or rather a lot – of controversy. The project is something for which the need was felt 60 years ago, so it is an important one.