€12.5 million invested to improve another 100 rural roads in 2021

With an investment of €12.5 million, Infrastructure Malta has carried out works ranging from rebuilding to repairs on 100 rural roads in 2021, the Transport Ministry said on Tuesday.

This was announced by Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects Ian Borg during a press conference in Delimara.

The Minister mentioned how many of these countryside roads had been left without adequate maintenance and abandoned for many years.

“The safety of the people remains a top priority for us. These roads had ended up in a disastrous state and even dangerous for both farmers and residents, and for others who use these quiet routes for walking, running and cycling. This is unacceptable to us. Therefore, we understood the situation and saw to it that an effective work strategy took place so that farmers and all those who use these roads can enjoy them in the highest quality infrastructure possible. We have seen that the farmer has a safe and adequate environment in which he can work and earn his daily bread. This is the way this social government listens and sees that no one is left out,” said Minister Borg.

Since it was established in 2018, Infrastructure Malta completed works in 330 countryside roads in more than 30 different localities. The rebuilding or resurfacing of another 22 rural roads is currently in progress, while works in several others are planned for the coming months.

As part of these works, an agreement with the farmers was also reached, so that some stormwater catchments are connected to nearby agricultural reservoirs.

Infrastructure Malta is currently also working with the Environment and Resources Authority to research and test new, environmentally-friendly paving materials that can be adopted for the surfaces of these roads in the future.

The agency installed 41.5 kilometres of new underground networks in the rural roads it upgraded in 2021. They include water mains, internet and other telecommunication ducts. The contractors used 46,400 tonnes of asphalt and concrete to complete the 37 kilometres of rural roads rebuilt or resurfaced in 2021.